Premium
Healthcare provider attitudes regarding the provision of assisted reproductive services for HIV ‐affected couples in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Pinsky Ala.,
Steenbergh Kylie,
Boyd Heather M.,
Michael Belen,
Bekele Delayehu,
Kobernik Emily,
Gebremedhin Lia Tadesse,
Mmeje Okeoma
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12426
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , reproductive health , infertility , family medicine , nursing , reproductive medicine , health care , transmission (telecommunications) , pregnancy , population , environmental health , economic growth , engineering , biology , electrical engineering , economics , genetics
Objective To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of providing assisted reproductive services as part of routine HIV care and treatment in Ethiopia. Methods The present cross‐sectional study using semistructured in‐depth interviews was conducted at St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College ( SPHMMC ), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during July 2014 and July 2015. The interviews assessed the perspectives of healthcare providers ( HCP s) regarding the reproductive desires of HIV ‐affected couples, on assisting them in achieving pregnancy, and on the facilitators and barriers to offering such services as part of routine HIV care. Results There were 40 HCP s from two SPHMMC clinics interviewed. All HCP s asserted that HIV ‐affected couples should have equal access to assisted reproductive services and most agreed that couples should have this access to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, even in the absence of underlying infertility. However, the HCP s cited systemic and structural barriers to the implementation and delivery of assisted reproductive services. Conclusion The integration of assisted reproductive services into HIV care and treatment programs is acceptable and feasible to HCP s. Formal training of HCP s may improve the implementation of these services for HIV ‐affected couples in low‐resource settings.