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Pregnancy prevention and condom use practices among HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy seeking family planning in Lilongwe, Malawi
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Pregnancy prevention and condom use practices among HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy seeking family planning in Lilongwe, Malawi

Lisa B Haddad, Caryl Feldacker, Denise J Jamieson, Hannock Tweya, Carrie Cwiak, Thomas Chaweza, Linly Mlundira, Jane Chiwoko, Bernadette Samala, Fanny Kachale, …
PloS one, Vol.10(3), pp.e0121039-e0121039
03/26/2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121039
PMCID: PMC4374940
PMID: 25811849
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0121039View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Programs for integration of family planning into HIV care must recognize current practices and desires among clients to appropriately target and tailor interventions. We sought to evaluate fertility intentions, unintended pregnancy, contraceptive and condom use among a cohort of HIV-infected women seeking family planning services within an antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic. 200 women completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire during enrollment into a prospective contraceptive study at the Lighthouse Clinic, an HIV/ART clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, between August and December 2010. Most women (95%) did not desire future pregnancy. Prior reported unintended pregnancy rates were high (69% unplanned and 61% unhappy with timing of last pregnancy). Condom use was inconsistent, even among couples with discordant HIV status, with lack of use often attributed to partner's refusal. Higher education, older age, lower parity and having an HIV negative partner were factors associated with consistent condom usage. High rates of unintended pregnancy among these women underscore the need for integ rating family planning, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, and HIV services. Contraceptive access and use, including condoms, must be improved with specific efforts to enlist partner support. Messages regarding the importance of condom usage in conjunction with more effective modern contraceptive methods for both infection and pregnancy prevention must continue to be reinforced over the course of ongoing ART treatment.
Adult Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active Condoms - statistics & numerical data Contraception Behavior Family Planning Services Female Fertility HIV Infections - drug therapy HIV Infections - prevention & control Humans Malawi Odds Ratio Patient Acceptance of Health Care Pregnancy Pregnancy, Unplanned

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