Journal article
Unintended pregnancy among women living with HIV in Cross River State, Nigeria: prevalence, associated factors, and implications for HIV prevention
BMC public health, Vol.26(1), 387
12/2026
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-25992-z
PMCID: PMC12853922
PMID: 41507909
Abstract
Unintended pregnancy is common with unprotected sexual intercourse. Women living with HIV (WLH) are more likely to have unintended pregnancies with implications for vertical HIV transmission and negative health outcomes. Hence, there is a need to investigate unplanned pregnancy among WLH in an HIV burdened state in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with unintended pregnancy among WLH in Cross River State, Nigeria.
Between June and August 2024, we conducted a cross-sectional study in four purposively selected health facilities. We asked 893 WLH if they had ever been pregnant when they did not want to and analyzed the data using SPSS version 29. We assessed factors associated with unintended pregnancy using logistic regression.
The WLH were on average 33.9 years old. About 61% were on modern contraceptives, mainly male condoms (37.6%). Unintended pregnancy was 49.2%; it was more common among those with increasing religiosity level (AOR: 1.239; 95% CI: 1.099-1.396), those who did not engage in transactional sex in the past year (AOR: 8.660; 95% CI: 2.338-32.079), and those without a history of miscarriage (AOR: 3.866; 95% CI: 1.583-9.445). Lastly, WLH with higher household incomes were less likely to report unintended pregnancy (AOR: 0.177; 95% CI: 0.042-0.738).
Unintended pregnancy was high among WLH. Stakeholders must educate WLH and sensitize religious leaders about the need to encourage modern contraceptive use to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy among WLH. These findings have implications for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission and maternal deaths, of which Nigeria has one of the highest rates globally.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Unintended pregnancy among women living with HIV in Cross River State, Nigeria: prevalence, associated factors, and implications for HIV prevention
- Creators
- Oluwaseun Abdulganiyu Badru - University of IowaAniekan Jumbo Etokidem - University of CalabarMorolake Josephine Adeagbo - University of IowaRima Afifi - University of IowaOluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo - University of Johannesburg
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- BMC public health, Vol.26(1), 387
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12889-025-25992-z
- PMID
- 41507909
- PMCID
- PMC12853922
- NLM abbreviation
- BMC Public Health
- ISSN
- 1471-2458
- eISSN
- 1471-2458
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Grant note
- University of Iowa International Programs and the generous support of the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization (SUIFSO).
The study was funded by the University of Iowa International Programs and the generous support of the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization (SUIFSO). The content of the manuscript does not necessarily reflect the views of the funder but is solely the responsibility of the authors.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 01/09/2026
- Date published
- 12/2026
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Institute for Clinical and Translational Science; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9985114163502771
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