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Fertility preferences, condom use, and concerns among HIV‐positive women in serodiscordant relationships in the era of antiretroviral therapy
Author(s) -
Ezeanochie Michael,
Olagbuji Biodun,
Ande Adedapo,
Oboro Victor
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.06.013
Subject(s) - serodiscordant , medicine , condom , antiretroviral therapy , fertility , demography , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antiretroviral treatment , cross sectional study , gynecology , family planning , obstetrics , population , viral load , environmental health , research methodology , syphilis , pathology , sociology
Objective To assess preferences and concerns about infecting partner or child among HIV‐positive women undergoing antiretroviral therapy and whose partners are HIV‐negative. Method In this cross‐sectional study conducted in Nigeria, 55 HIV‐positive women undergoing antiretroviral therapy and married to seronegative men answered an anonymous questionnaire regarding whether they preferred to conceive naturally or by means of an assisted reproductive technique (ART). Results Compared with older women (mean age 33.6 ± 5.1 years), younger women (mean age, 29.8 ± 3.9 years) were significantly more likely to choose natural conception than ART ( P = 0.02). Moreover, whereas 23 respondents (48.9%) reported consistent condom use, 11 (23.4%) reported never using condoms after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. There was a significant difference in the consistent use of condoms between those who preferred natural conception and those who preferred ART (56.8% vs 20%, P = 0.049). Conclusion With improving immunologic and clinical status once antiretroviral therapy is initiated, HIV‐positive women wishing to become pregnant may engage in risky sexual practices. This trend needs to be addressed because of its consequences for public health.