Modern contraceptive use among women living with HIV/AIDS at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana

[Contraceptive practices of HIV-infected women followed up on an ambulatory basis at the Treichville University Hospital (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)]

Introduction

Family planning is a high impact strategy to reduce maternal mortality and to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This study aims to describe contraceptive practices of HIV-infected women followed upon an ambulatory basis at the Treichville University Hospital.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive multicenter survey of people living with HIV in the ambulatory care units of the Treichville University Hospital from 1 April to 30 June 2016. During this period, all HIV positive patients of childbearing age attending the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Pneumophtisiology Department, the Department of Dermatovenereology and the Department of internal medicine were invited to complete a standardized questionnaire on the sociodemographic, medical characteristics and the contraceptive practices.

Results

In total, 283 women agreed to participate in the study, their median age was 36 years with an average parity of 1.7. Patients were nulliparous in only 22.3% of cases and lived with a partner in 54.8% of cases. They had no child with the current partner in 68.2% of cases. The partner was informed about their HIV status in 51.6% of cases. They were under antiretroviral treatment in 92.9% of cases with a median mean CD4 of 382 cells/mL. The majority of patients (62.9%) declared that they were using a modern contraceptive method. They mainly used progestin injectable (45.5%) and contraceptive implant (32.6%). The practice of dual protection was reported by only 17.4% of them. Secondary and higher education (OR=2.23 [1,35-3,69], p=0.01), multiparity (OR=1.84 [1,11-3,06], p=0.002) and revelation of HIV positive status to the partner (OR=1.86 [1,14-3,03], p<0.01) were factors significantly associated with the use of contraception.

Conclusion

Based on our experience, contraceptive practices in women infected with HIV are generally discouraging. It is essential to develop strategies to improve the integration of family planning into the management of HIV-infected women.

Assessing Reproductive Decision-making Among HIV-Positive Women in Kumasi, Ghana

BACKGROUND OR OBJECTIVES

HIV-positive women have higher rates of unmet need for contraception and unintended pregnancy and face unique obstacles in accessing family planning services, such as healthcare-related stigma and disclosing HIV status to partners. This study characterizes factors that influence the reproductive decision-making of women living with HIV and identifies areas for improvement in reproductive counseling in Kumasi.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, HIV-positive women, ages 18 to 45 years, presenting for care at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital between June and August 2017 were interviewed using structured surveys. Information gathered included demographics, method of contraceptive use, initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (ART), knowledge and use of contraception, and future reproductive plans. The primary outcome was current family planning use and future reproductive desire. Univariate analysis was used to characterize the demographics of the study group. Bivariate analysis including Chi-squared test was employed to assess the association between use of family planning between women with an HIV-positive and HIV-negative partner, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 88 women were interviewed. The unmet need for contraception was 10%. Among all sexually active women, 26% did not use contraception. Fewer women with HIV-negative or untested partners were using contraception (65% and 67%, respectively), compared to women with HIV-positive partners (93%). Partner preference was the most common reason cited for not using a method of contraceptive (46%). Similar trends were found in future reproductive desires based on age cohorts, partner status, and use of family planning.

CONCLUSION AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Significant barriers to family planning use among HIV-positive women remain, especially those with a serodiscordant partner. Most partners were aware of their partner's HIV status. This highlights an important opportunity to include partners in HIV and contraceptive counseling.