Fertility intentions and reproductive health care needs of people living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa: implications for integrating reproductive health and HIV care services

Reproductive health needs of HIV serodiscordant couples: a systematic review

Objectives

HIV is closely linked to reproductive and sexual health. HIV Serodiscordant couples face significant social, reproductive, and sexual challenges. This systematic review aimed to identify their reproductive health needs.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across six databases: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Magiran, and Iranmedex. No date restrictions were applied, and only English-language articles published before February 21, 2023, were included. We also searched the grey literature and conducted forward/backward citation searches.

Results

From an initial 758 articles, 18 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were qualitative (n = 10) and quantitative (n = 8). Key reproductive health needs included (1) childbearing intention, (2) HIV serodiscordance and sexuality, (3) psychological and social support, (4) training and consultation services, (5) access to reliable information, and (6) focused training for healthcare providers.

Conclusion

HIV-discordant couples face various reproductive health challenges. Implementing comprehensive guidelines for reproductive and sexual health, rehabilitation, and fertility planning is crucial to improving their quality of life and health.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023393567.

A Mixed Method Assessment of the Fertility Preferences of Clients Using Antiretroviral Therapy in Ilorin, Nigeria - A Descriptive Cross-sectional Survey

INTRODUCTION

The burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Nigeria remains one of the highest in the world, with the country having the highest number of people living with the infection in the West African subregion. Recent estimates put the HIV prevalence rate in Nigeria at 1.9%. In the early years of the HIV epidemic, attention on the reproductive preferences of people living with HIV was not really considered because of the high risk of mortality and few options to reduce mother-to-child transmission.

METHODOLOGY

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in November 2018 using quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 400 participants were recruited for the quantitative part of the study and 10 respondents for each of the focus group discussion (FGD) sessions. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and a FGD guide. Frequencies and percentages were determined using descriptive analysis. Univariate analysis was used to explore the association between the outcome variables and the independent variables. The independent variables which showed a significant association in the univariate analysis were further subjected to multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The desire to have children since their HIV diagnosis had been mooted by 255 (63.8%) respondents in the past and 64.5% of the respondents admitted to wanting to have children at some point in the future. More than half of the respondents (61%) currently wanted more children while a significant proportion of the respondents who wanted children (68.4%) wanted more than one child.

CONCLUSION

The study observed that the desire to have children had largely not been affected by the HIV infection as respondents still had a fairly strong desire to continue to have more children in spite of the risks of transmission involved. The study recommended that government and HIV policymakers need to ensure that HIV prevention messages and programmes adopt cultural and socio-economic considerations when designing and planning HIV prevention programmes.

Sexual Risk among Pregnant Women at Risk of HIV Infection in Cape Town, South Africa: What Does Alcohol Have to Do with It?

This study examines baseline associations between alcohol use and HIV sexual risk among a cohort of HIV-uninfected pregnant women (n = 1201) residing in a high HIV burdened community in Cape Town, South Africa. Alcohol use was measured using a modified version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). HIV sexual risk was measured through a composite variable of four risk factors: diagnosis with a STI, self-report of > 1 recent sex partners, partner HIV serostatus (unknown or HIV+) and condomless sex at last sex. Any past year alcohol use prior to pregnancy was reported by half of participants (50%); 6.0% reported alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol use prior to pregnancy was associated with increased odds of being at high risk of HIV (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.05-1.68, for 2 risks and aOR = 1.47, 95% CI 0.95-2.27 for 3 risks). In addition to reducing alcohol use, several other strategies to address HIV sexual risk were identified. Evidence-based interventions to address alcohol use and other HIV sexual risk behaviors during pregnancy in South Africa are desperately needed. Qualitative work exploring individual and community level drivers of alcohol use among pregnant and breastfeeding women in this setting could support development of a culturally tailored intervention to address these issues in this population.

Untapped Potential for Safer Conception Messaging to Transform PrEP Rollout and Promote Service Engagement Among Serodiscordant Couples

Uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) fell short of targets for Sub-Saharan Africa's initial rollout, revealing the need for more effective promotion strategies. In Uganda, we explored potential benefits and challenges of integrating safer conception messaging to promote PrEP among serodiscordant couples. In-depth interviews were conducted with clients and personnel at three clinics and analyzed thematically. Participants (n = 58) valued PrEP as a safer conception method (SCM) but described lack of integration of safer conception and PrEP services as well as inconsistent practices in prescribing PrEP to couples pursuing conception. Participants reported that the wider population remains largely unaware of PrEP and SCM or harbors misconceptions that PrEP is primarily for highly stigmatized groups like sex workers. Participants further described how heterosexual couples can still be reluctant to test for HIV, unaware of tools like PrEP and SCM that would allow them to continue their relationship and/or pursuit of childbearing. Overall, findings suggest that integrating PrEP and SCM in messaging and services targeting serodiscordant couples holds untapped benefits throughout the HIV prevention cascade.

Acceptability of an Intervention to Promote Viral Suppression and Serostatus Disclosure for Men Living with HIV in South Africa: Qualitative Findings

Men living with HIV (MLWH) often have reproductive goals that can increase HIV-transmission risks to their pregnancy partners. We developed a safer conception intervention for MLWH in South Africa employing cognitive behavioral skills to promote serostatus disclosure, ART uptake, and viral suppression. MLWH were recruited from an HIV clinic near Durban, South Africa, and encouraged to include partners in follow-up visits. Exit in-depth interviews were conducted with eleven men and one female partner. The emerging over-arching theme is that safer conception care mitigates internalized and community-level HIV-stigma among MLWH. Additional related sub-themes include: (1) safer conception care acceptability is high but structural barriers challenge participation; (2) communication skills trainings helped overcome barriers to disclose serostatus; (3) feasibility and perceived effectiveness of strategies informed safer conception method selection. Our findings suggest that offering safer conception care to MLWH is a novel stigma-reducing strategy for motivating HIV prevention and treatment and serostatus disclosure to partners.

Attitudes Toward Pregnancy Among Women Enrolled in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Services in Moshi, Tanzania

For pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH), feelings about pregnancy may influence their emotional well-being and health seeking behaviors. This study examined attitudes toward pregnancy and associated factors among women enrolled in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services in Moshi, Tanzania. 200 pregnant WLWH were enrolled during their second or third trimester of pregnancy and completed a structured survey. Univariable and multivariable regression models examined factors associated with attitudes toward pregnancy, including demographics, interpersonal factors, and emotional well-being. Attitudes toward the current pregnancy were generally positive, with 87% of participants reporting feeling happy about being pregnant. In the final multivariable model, having higher levels of partner support, being newly diagnosed with HIV, and having fewer children were significantly associated with more positive attitudes toward their pregnancy. Findings point to a need for tailored psychosocial support services in PMTCT, as well as comprehensive reproductive health care for WLWH.

Prevalence and factors associated with fertility desire among HIV-positive women in Rwanda in the context of improved life expectancy

Background

The knowledge of the key factors associated with fertility desire among people living with HIV/AIDS is crucial for the efficient planning of maternal and child health care programs. Fertility desire has generally increased among women of reproductive age in Rwanda. However, its level and determinants among women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) are currently not well known in the context of Rwanda. The present study aimed to fill in this knowledge gap.

Methods

Data were extracted from the 2015 Rwanda demographic and health survey (RDHS) for 243 HIV-positive women of reproductive age. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted in order to identify the most influential factors.

Results

The prevalence of desire to have another child in HIV-positive women was found to be as high as 40.7%. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that the woman’s age of 35–49 years (AOR = 0.051, 95% CI: 0.013–0.204), woman’s parity of 3 children or above (AOR = 0.177, 95% CI: 0.037–0.837), being employed (AOR = 0.298, 95% CI: 0.113–0.782) and currently using contraceptives (AOR = 0.146; 95% CI: 0.057–0.375) were significantly associated with low odds of fertility desire among HIV- positive women in Rwanda. Women younger than 25 years, with no living child, or who were unemployed or who were not using any contraceptive were significantly associated with greater odds of desire to have another child than did other HIV- positive women. A woman whose partner's desire for children is different  from hers was associated with about four times higher odds (AOR = 3.752; 95% CI: 1.203–11.702) of desire for more children than women who desire the same as their partners.

Conclusion

Fertility desire in WLHA is currently high in Rwanda. It is significantly influenced by demographic and socioeconomic factors. The Rwanda’s health care system should be prepared to intensify the required services for the prevention of the vertical transmission of HIV, the delivery of maternal and child health care services, and the support to WLHA in planning their fertility. Interventions should target low-parity young women, with a particular focus on meeting their contraceptive needs.

Development and Validation of the Couple Sexual Satisfaction Scale for HIV and Sexual Health Research

Sexual satisfaction is an important dimension of relationship quality with implications for sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and HIV prevention, care, and treatment. We developed and validated the Couple Sexual Satisfaction Scale (CSSS) with heterosexual couples in sub-Saharan Africa. Using data from qualitative interviews with 94 partnered women and men in Swaziland and Malawi, we generated a 22-item scale and administered it to 211 couples with at least one partner living with HIV in Malawi. We performed an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the factor structure. To assess validity, we tested for associations between the CSSS and relationship quality, consistent condom use, and intimate partner violence (IPV) using generalized estimating equations. The EFA yielded two factors, general sexual satisfaction (13-item CSSS-Gen subscale, e.g., "I am satisfied with the sweetness of sex in our relationship") and HIV-specific sexual satisfaction (4-item CSSS-HIV subscale, e.g., "My appetite for sex has gone down due to HIV"), accounting for 78% of the shared variance. The CFA supported the two-factor solution: χ²(118) = 203.60; CFI = 0.909; SRMR = 0.057; RMSEA = 0.058. Participants with higher CSSS-Gen scores reported higher coital frequency and relationship quality (intimacy, trust, unity, equality, relationship satisfaction, commitment, partner social support), and less consistent condom use, physical IPV, and emotional IPV. Participants with higher CSSS-HIV scores reported higher coital frequency and relationship quality (trust, partner support), and less consistent condom use, and sexual IPV. The CSSS demonstrated good psychometric properties and provides new opportunities to study sexual reproductive health and HIV-related health behaviors among couples in sub-Saharan Africa.

Fertility desires of people living with HIV: does the implementation of a sexual and reproductive health and HIV integration model change healthcare providers' attitudes and clients' desires?

Background

There is a need for information and healthcare support for the fertility desires and contraceptive needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in order to provide safer conception support for sero-discordant couples wanting to safely conceive. A model to integrate sexual and reproductive health and HIV services was developed and implemented in a district hospital and six clinics in the eThekwini District, South Africa.

Methods

To evaluate the model’s success, a cross-sectional survey was conducted before and after implementation of the model. As part of this evaluation, fertility desires of PLHIV (both male and female), and providers’ perspectives thereof were explored. Changes in desires and attitudes after integration of services were investigated.

Results

Forty-six healthcare providers and 269 clients (48 male, 221 female) were surveyed at baseline, and 44 providers and 300 clients (70 male, 230 female) at endline. Various factors including relationship status, parity and antiretroviral treatment (ART) access influenced PLHIVs’ desires for children. Concerns for their own and their child’s health negatively impacted on PLHIV’s fertility desires. These concerns declined after integration of services. Similarly, providers’ concerns about PLHIV having children decreased after the implementation of the model.

Conclusions

Integrated services are important to facilitate provision of information on contraceptive options as well as safer conception information for PLHIV who want to have children.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06487-0.

Prevalence and factors associated with fertility desire among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The fertility desire of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has been rising in the past decade. However, there are many studies among which the association remains controversial between the fertility desire of HIV-infected persons and antiretroviral therapy (ART), sex, marital status, and educational level.

METHODS

We performed a literature search of these meta-analyses in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and ScienceDirect in November 2019. We also reviewed references of eligible studies to complement the search. We used pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with a random-effects model and a fixed-effects model to estimate the association between fertility desire among PLHIV and ART, sex, age, marital status, educational level, and number of children. Subgroups with I square values (I2) and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the heterogeneity and the stability of the overall ORs, respectively. We evaluated publication bias using Egger's test and a visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots.

RESULTS

In these meta-analyses 50 articles were included with 22,367 subjects. The pooled prevalence of fertility desire among PLHIV was estimated to be 42.04%. The pooled analyses showed that the fertility desire of PLHIV is associated with ART (OR = 1.11, 95% CI:1.00-1.23, P = 0.043), sex (OR = 1.51, 95% CI:1.10-2.09), age (OR = 2.65, 95% CI:2.24-3.14), marital status (OR = 1.34, 95% CI:1.08-1.66), educational level (OR = 0.85, 95% CI:0.73-1.00, P = 0.047) and the number of children (OR = 3.99, 95% CI:3.06-5.20). PLHIV who are on ART, are male, are younger than 30, are married/cohabiting, have received a secondary education or above, and are childless have a higher prevalence of fertility desire. The two factors of age and the number of children, in particular demonstrated a strong significant association with fertility desire. We found moderate heterogeneity in the meta-analyses of age and educational level and high heterogeneity in the meta-analyses of sex, marital status and number of children. Publication bias was detected in the meta-analyses of the association of fertility with sex and educational level.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the prevalence of fertility desire among HIV-infected people is 42.04%, and the fertility desire among PLHIV is associated with ART experience, sex, age, marital status, the number of children, and educational level. Since a majority of PLHIV are of reproductive age, it is necessary to support PLHIV in terms of their needs regarding reproductive decision-making. Through counseling and reproductive health care, further measures to prevent the horizontal and vertical transmission of HIV should be taken.

Effect of HIV Infection and Antiretroviral Treatment on Pregnancy Rates in the Western Cape Province of South Africa

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggest that untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with a reduced incidence of pregnancy, but studies of the effect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) on pregnancy incidence have been inconsistent.

METHODS

Routine data from health services in the Western Cape province of South Africa were linked to identify pregnancies during 2007-2017 and maternal HIV records. The time from the first (index) pregnancy outcome date to the next pregnancy was modeled using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

During 2007-2017, 1 042 647 pregnancies were recorded. In all age groups, pregnancy incidence rates were highest in women who had started ART, lower in HIV-negative women, and lowest in ART-naive HIV-positive women. In multivariable analysis, after controlling for the most recent CD4+ T-cell count, pregnancy incidence rates in HIV-positive women receiving ART were higher than those in untreated HIV-positive women (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-1.67) and those in HIV-negative women.

CONCLUSION

Among women who have recently been pregnant, receipt of ART is associated with high rates of second pregnancy. Better integration of family planning into HIV care services is needed.

Societal and individual drivers of fertility desires and intentions among people living with HIV: a cross sectional study of HIV clinic attendees in Soweto, South Africa

Background

High proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are in the prime of their reproductive years desire to have children. There are limited studies that explore the range of fertility intentions for PLHIV. This study investigated the fertility desires and intentions of PLHIV and the associated factors.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 442 PLHIV receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) in health facilities in Soweto, an urban township that is situated in the City of Johannesburg in South Africa. STATA version 13 was used to analyze the data.

Results

The participants' mean age was 36.3 years, 70% were females, 79.6% had at least one biological child, and 36% had 3+ children. Almost half (47%) expressed the desire for children, saying that this was because they had no biological children, or their partners wanted children, or they wanted children of a particular sex, or were feeling healthy after taking ART. An increased fertility desire was associated with absence of biological children (AOR = 5.06, 95% CI: 2.11–12.1) and with being married (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.31–5.27). A decreased fertility desire was associated with being aged 36+ (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.31–5.27), having primary education (AOR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01–1.30) and having ≥4 years of ART duration (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.24–0.81).

Conclusion

Individual factors played a significant role in shaping the fertility desires of PLHIV in this setting. The high desire for children underscore the need to integrate reproductive health services in HIV and AIDS care and treatment services and develop safer conception programmes to help PLHIV to conceive and have children safely.

"I prefer not to have a child than have a HIV-positive child": a Mixed Methods Study of Fertility Behaviour of Men Living with HIV in Northern Nigeria

BACKGROUND

In the era of HIV treatment as prevention, little research has focused on the fertility behaviour of men living with HIV. This study examines the predictors and motivators of fertility among men living with HIV and on antiretroviral treatment in Kano, Nigeria.

METHOD

Using mixed methods, structured questionnaires were administered to a clinic-based sample of men living with HIV (n = 270) and HIV-negative/untested controls (n = 270), followed by in-depth interviews with a sub-group of 22 HIV-positive participants. Logistic regression and the framework approach were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Compared to HIV-negative/untested controls, lower proportions of men living with HIV desired more children (79.3%, n = 214 vs. 91.1%, n = 246, p < 0.05) and intended to bear children within 3 years (57.0%, n = 154 vs. 67.0%, n = 181) (p < 0.05). Marital status (ever married vs. single) predicted fertility intention among men living with HIV (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 4.70, 95% confidence interval CI, 1.75-13.64) and HIV-negative/untested controls (AOR = 4.23, 95% CI, 1.37-16.45). Men considered self and partner health status, HIV transmission risks, poverty, the effectiveness of interventions, child survival and religion when making fertility decisions.

CONCLUSION

Fertility desires remain high post-HIV diagnosis. HIV services should include integrated reproductive health programs that address the fertility desires of clients and include considerations for fertility services.

Contraceptive use among sexually active women living with HIV in western Ethiopia

Introduction

Contraception can help to meet family planning goals for women living with HIV (WLHIV) as well as to support the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). However, there is little research into the contraceptive practice among sexually active WLHIV in Ethiopia. Therefore, we aimed to examine contraceptive practice among sexually active WLHIV in western Ethiopia and identify the factors that influenced such practice using the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional survey of 360 sexually active WLHIV was conducted from 19^th March to 22^nd June 2018 in western Ethiopia. The eligible participants were WLHIV aged between 18 and 49 years who reported being fecund and sexually active within the previous six months but were not pregnant and not wanting to have another child within two years. Modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted to identify factors that influenced contraceptive practice among sexually active WLHIV in western Ethiopia.

Results

Among sexually active WLHIV (n = 360), 75% used contraception with 25% having unmet needs. Of the contraceptive users, 44.8% used injectables, 37.4% used condoms and 28.5% used implants. Among 152 recorded births in the last five years, 17.8% were reported as mistimed and 25.7% as unwanted. Compared to WLHIV having no child after HIV diagnosis, having two or more children after HIV diagnosis (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [APR] = 1.31; 95%CI 1.09–1.58) was associated with increased risk of contraceptive practice. However, sexually active unmarried WLHIV (APR = 0.69; 95%CI 0.50–0.95) were less likely to use any contraception compared to their sexually active married counterparts. Importantly, high perceived susceptibility (APR = 1.49; 95%CI 1.20–1.86) and medium perceived susceptibility (APR = 1.55; 95%CI 1.28–1.87) towards unintended pregnancy were associated with higher risk of contraceptive use than WLHIV with low perceived susceptibility.

Conclusions

Although contraceptive use amongst sexually active WLHIV was found to be high, our findings highlight the need for strengthening family planning services given the high rate of unintended pregnancies, the high rate of unmet needs for contraception, as well as the lower efficacy with some of the methods. Our findings also suggest that the HBM would be a valuable framework for healthcare providers, programme planners and policymakers to develop guidelines and policies for contraceptive counselling and choices.

Protocol for a longitudinal study to evaluate the use of tenofovir-based PrEP for safer conception and pregnancy among women in South Africa

INTRODUCTION

Women who choose to conceive a baby with a partner living with HIV or a partner whose HIV serostatus is unknown in HIV-endemic settings need prevention strategies to mitigate HIV acquisition during conception and pregnancy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We are conducting a single-arm longitudinal study offering oral tenofovirdisoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for periconception use to 350 HIV-uninfected women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. PrEP is offered as part of woman-centred safer conception programme that promotes couples-based HIV counselling and testing, antiretroviral therapy for partners who are HIV-infected, treatment for sexually transmitted infections and safer conception strategies, such as limiting condomless sex to peak fertility. We enrol HIV-uninfected women who are not currently pregnant, in a stable relationship (≥6 months) with a partner living with HIV or of unknown serostatus, and personal or partner plans for pregnancy in the next 12 months. We follow enrolled women for 12 months. Women who become pregnant are followed through pregnancy outcome, independent of their decisions regarding PrEP use. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the uptake of and adherence to PrEP during the periconception period and pregnancy. Secondary outcomes include the uptake of other safer conception strategies. We also measure clinical outcomes including HIV seroconversion rates and pregnancy and infant outcomes. Finally, we will explore conduct and evaluate qualitative interviews in 25 participants to further inform our conceptual framework for periconception PrEP uptake and adherence among HIV-exposed women in South Africa.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The protocol has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa) and the Institutional Review Board of Partners Healthcare (Boston, Massachusetts, USA). Study findings will be made available to interested participants. Results will be presented to local health officials and stakeholders at meetings. Investigators will share the results at meetings and in manuscripts. De-identified quantitative data will be made available.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The protocol is registered with the South African Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAHPRA, formerly known as the Medicine Controls Council, MCC#20170131) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03194308); Pre-results.

Knowledge and correlates of use of safer conception methods among HIV-infected women attending HIV care in Uganda

BACKGROUND

Many people living with HIV would like to have children but family planning (FP) services often focus on only contraception. Availability of safer conception services is still very low in most low income countries. In this study we assessed the knowledge and use of safer conception methods (SCM) among HIV infected women in HIV care in Uganda to inform integration of safer conception in existing FP services.

METHODS

Data were accrued from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of 5198 HIV+ women aged 15-49 years from 245 HIV clinics in Uganda. Knowledge and use of safer conception methods and associated factors were determined. The measure of association was prevalence ratio (PR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, obtained using a modified Poisson regression via generalized linear models. All the analyses were conducted using STATA version 12.0.

RESULTS

Overall knowledge of any safer conception method was 74.1% (3852/5198). However only 13.2% knew 3 to 4 methods, 18.9% knew only 2 methods and 42% knew only one method. Knowledge of specific SCM was highest for timed unprotected intercourse (TUI) at 39% (n = 2027) followed by manual self-insemination (MSI) at 34.8% (n = 1809), and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at 24.8% (n = 1289). Knowledge of SCM was higher in the Eastern region (84.8%, P < 0.001), among women in HIV-discordant relationships (76.7%, p < 0.017), and those on ART (74.5%, p < 0.034). Overall, 1796 (34.6%) women were pregnant or reported a birth in the past 2 years-overall use of SCM in this group was 11.6% (209/1796). The odds of use of SCM were significantly lower in Kampala [adj. PR = 0.489(0.314, 0.764)] or Eastern region [adj.PR = 0.244; (0.147, 0.405)] compared to Northern region. Higher odds of SCM use were associated with HIV status disclosure to partner [adj.PR = 2.613(1.308, 5.221)] and sero-discordant compared to HIV+ concordant relationship [adj.PR = 1.637(1.236, 2.168)]. Pre-existing knowledge of any one SCM did not influence SCM use.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge and use of SCM among HIV+ women in care is low. Efforts to improve HIV status disclosure, integration of safer conception into FP and HIV services and regional efforts to promote sensitization and access to safer conception can help to increase uptake of safer conception methods.

Prevalence and factors associated with fertility desires/intentions among individuals in HIV-serodiscordant relationships: a systematic review of empirical studies

INTRODUCTION

Better knowledge about fertility desires/intentions among HIV-serodiscordant partners who face unique challenges when considering childbearing may be helpful in the development of targeted reproductive interventions. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the published literature regarding the prevalence of fertility desires/intentions and its associated factors among individuals in HIV-serodiscordant relationships while distinguishing low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) from high-income countries (HIC).

METHODS

A systematic search of all papers published prior to February 2017 was conducted in four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane Library). Empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals with individuals in HIV-serodiscordant relationships assessing the prevalence of fertility desires/intentions and/or the associated factors were included in this systematic review. This review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

After screening 1852 references, 29 studies were included, of which 21 were conducted in LMIC and eight in HIC. A great variability in the prevalence of fertility desires/intentions was observed in LMIC (8% to 84% (one member of the dyad included)). In HIC, the results showed a smaller discrepancy between in the prevalence (32% to 58% (one member of the dyad included)); the prevalence was higher when the couple was the unit of analysis (64% to 73%), which may be related to the fact that all these studies were conducted in the context of assisted reproduction. Few studies examined the factors associated with fertility desires/intentions, and all except one were conducted in LMIC. Individuals (e.g. number of children), couple-level (e.g. belief that the partner wanted children) and structural factors (e.g. discussions with health workers) were found to be associated.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this systematic review suggest that many individuals in HIV-serodiscordant relationships have fertility desires/intentions, although the prevalence is particularly heterogeneous in LMIC in comparison to HIC. Well-known factors such as younger age and a fewer number of living children were consistently associated with increased fertility desires/intentions. Different couple-level factors emerged, reflecting the importance of considering both the individual and the couple. However, further studies that specifically focus on the dyad as the unit of analysis are warranted.

Fertility desire and associated factors among women on the reproductive age group of Antiretroviral treatment users in Jimma Town, South West Ethiopia

OBJECTIVES

HIV remained the major cause of death in women of reproductive age worldwide. There is limited evidence regarding the fertility desire of HIV positive women receiving HIV care in the study area. Therefore, facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2017 to assess fertility desire of HIV positive women and associated factors among mothers in receiving HIV care Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia. Simple random sampling technique was taken to draw the sample after stratification. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and statistical significance was declared at P value less than 0.05.

RESULTS

This finding showed that, 175 (46.8%) of the Antiretroviral therapy users had fertility desire with those significantly associated factors; women in the age 18-29 years [AOR = 4.05, 95% CI 1.24-13.33], being married [AOR = 0.32, 95% CI (0.13-0.78)], having diploma educational level [AOR = 5.34, 95% CI 1.10, 15.60], having only boys or girls children [AOR = 2.79, 95% CI (1.24-6.25)], having 18-36$ monthly income [AOR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.56-10.67)], Partner's HIV status [AOR = 3.56, 95% CI (3.02-9.33)] and non use of contraceptives [AOR = 2.57, 95% CI (1.08-6.13)]. Fertility desire in the study area was high. Strengthening PMTCT service should consider fertility desire of mothers living with HIV.

Longitudinal patterns of unmet need for contraception among women living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in South Africa

OBJECTIVES

Fertility intentions and contraceptive use are often not assessed in the context of clinical HIV care, representing a possible programming gap if women's family planning needs change over time. We aimed to identify longitudinal patterns of unmet need for contraception over a 12-month period among women living with HIV taking antiretroviral therapy (ART).

STUDY DESIGN

850 non-pregnant, HIV-positive women aged 18-35 on or initiating ART in Johannesburg, South Africa, were enrolled into a prospective cohort study in 2009-2010. Fertility intentions and contraceptive use were assessed during routine HIV care visits via an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and women were referred for on-site contraceptive counseling. We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify patterns of unmet need for contraception over 12 months, first in the entire population and then in a subset of recent ART initiators.

RESULTS

In the full population we identified four patterns of unmet need for contraception over one year. Half of the enrolled women were predicted to have a consistently high probability of unmet need, 22.9% a consistently low probability, 16.7% a decreasing probability, and 10.4% an increasing probability over time. Contraceptive method discontinuation and rapidly changing fertility intentions were the primary drivers of changing (increasing or decreasing) unmet need over follow-up. Results were similar in recent ART initiators.

CONCLUSIONS

Half of women were estimated to have a high probability of unmet need that persisted over time, and more than a quarter were estimated to experience patterns of changing unmet need over 12 months. Family planning needs should be assessed more regularly in HIV-positive women to prevent unintended pregnancies and support safer conception among women trying to conceive.

The Dark Side of Female HIV Patient Care: Sexual and Reproductive Health Risks in Pre- and Post-Clinical Treatments

This study examines the pre- and post-clinical issues in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care and treatment for women and girls of high-risk population groups—namely sex workers, injecting drug users, women living with HIV, primary sexual partners of people living with HIV, adolescent girls who are children of these groups, and migrant young girls and women—in five provinces and cities in Vietnam. Through a sample of 241 surveyed participants and 48 respondents for in-depth interviews and 32 respondents in the focus group discussions, the study identifies multiple barriers that keep these groups from receiving the proper health care that is well within their human rights. Most respondents rated HIV testing as easily accessible, yet only 18.9% of the surveyed women living with HIV disclosed their infection status, while 37.8% gave no information at the most recent prenatal care visit. The level of knowledge and proper practices of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care also remains limited. Meanwhile, modern birth control methods have yet to be widely adopted among these populations: only 30.7% of respondents reported using condoms when having sex with their husband. This increases the risks of unwanted pregnancy and abortion, as well as vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV transmission. On the other hand, HIV-related stigma and discrimination at health care settings are still pervasive, which create significant barriers for patients to access proper care services. Based on these results, six recommendations to improve SRH status of women and girls of populations at high risk are put forward.

Changes in Providers' Self-Efficacy and Intentions to Provide Safer Conception Counseling Over 24 Months

High rates of fertility desires, childbearing and serodiscordant partnerships among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Uganda underscore the need to promote use of safer conception methods (SCM). Effective SCM exist but few PLHIV benefit from provider-led safer conception counseling (SCC) and comprehensive national SCC guidelines are still lacking. Providers' self-efficacy, intentions and attitudes for SCC impact provision and should inform development of services, but there are no longitudinal studies that assess these important constructs. This study reports on changes in providers' knowledge, attitudes, motivation and confidence to provide SCC among a 24-month observational cohort of Ugandan HIV providers. Compared to baseline, providers evidenced increased awareness of SCM, perceived greater value in providing SCC, saw all SCM but sperm washing as likely to be acceptable to clients, reported consistently high interest in and peer support for providing SCC, and perceived fewer barriers at the 24-month follow-up. Providers' intentions for providing SCC stayed consistently high for all SCM except manual self-insemination which decreased at 24 months. Self-efficacy for providing SCC increased from baseline with the greatest improvement in providers' confidence in advising serodiscordant couples where the man is HIV-infected. Providers consistently cite the lack of established guidelines, training, and their own reluctance to broach the issue with clients as significant barriers to providing SCC. Despite providers being more interested and open to providing SCC than ever, integration of SCC into standard HIV services has not happened. Concerted efforts are needed to address remaining barriers by establishing national SCC guidelines and implementing quality provider training.

Study protocol of "Our Choice": a randomized controlled trial of the integration of safer conception counseling to transform HIV family planning services in Uganda

BACKGROUND

About 40% of HIV-positive women in sub-Saharan Africa become pregnant post-diagnosis. Despite about half of their pregnancies being planned, safer conception methods (SCM) are underutilized among serodiscordant couples, partially due to the fact that safer conception counseling (SCC) has not been integrated into routine HIV family planning (FP) services.

METHODS

Our Choice is a comprehensive FP intervention that promotes unbiased childbearing consultations to ensure clients receive SCC or contraception services to achieve their desired reproductive goals. The intervention is theoretically grounded and has demonstrated preliminarily feasibility and acceptance through pilot testing. This three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial compares two implementation strategies for integrating Our Choice into routine FP services vs. usual care. Six sites in Uganda will be randomized to receive either (1) Our Choice intervention with enhanced training and supervision provided by study staff (SCC1), (2) Our Choice intervention implemented by the Ministry of Health's standard approach to disseminating new services (SCC2), or (3) existing FP services (usual care). Our Choice and usual care FP services will be implemented simultaneously over a 30-month period. Sixty clients in serodiscordant relationships who express childbearing desires will be enrolled by a study coordinator at each site (n = 360) and followed for 12 months or post-pregnancy (once, if applicable). Analysis will compare intervention arms (SCC1 and SCC2) to usual care and then to each other (SCC1 vs. SCC2) on the primary outcome of correct use of either SCM (if trying to conceive) or dual contraception (if pregnancy is not desired). Secondary outcomes (i.e., pregnancy, use of prevention of mother-to-child transmission services, condom use, and partner seroconversion) and cost-effectiveness will also be examined.

DISCUSSION

Findings will provide critical information about the success of implementation models of varying intensity for integrating SCC into FP, thereby informing policy and resource allocation within and beyond Uganda.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03167879 ClinicalTrials.gov, Registered 30 May, 2017.

Factors associated with desired fertility among HIV-positive women and men attending two urban clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi

As access to antiretroviral therapy increases, more HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa may desire fertility. We conducted a cross-sectional study of reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and practices to identify factors associated with desired fertility among women and men receiving care at two large public HIV clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi. Research assistants administered questionnaires to participants. We performed descriptive, bivariable and multivariable analysis of factors related to desired fertility and of factors related to contraceptive non-use among participants who did not desire fertility. One-third of participants desired future children. Having a partner who desired fertility and having lower parity were associated with desiring children among both genders. For women, believing that pregnancy was unhealthy was associated with decreased fertility desire. Fifty-five percent of women and 69% of men who did not want children in the future reported using contraception at last intercourse. Increasing age, lower parity, and making the decision to use contraception herself were associated with contraceptive non-use among women who did not desire fertility. Having discussed family planning with his partner was associated with contraceptive use among men who did not desire fertility. Knowledge of these factors can guide reproductive health counseling and service provision.

Reproductive decision-making among postpartum HIV-infected women in rural South Africa

Despite pregnancy spacing recommendations to optimize health outcomes among mothers and neonates, unplanned pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa is common among women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (WLHIV). This study examined factors associated with reproductive decision-making among WLHIV to inform pregnancy-planning interventions. WLHIV in rural South Africa (n = 165) were assessed at 12 months postpartum. The relative importance of factors associated with reproductive decision-making was estimated. Women were a mean of 28 years old (SD = 5.71). Risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV (Mean = 0.43; SD = 0.33) had the greatest impact on decision-making, followed by partners' desires (M = 0.22; SD = 0.18), family preferences (M = 0.18; SD = 0.13), and community opinion (M = 0.17; SD = 0.13). MTCT was most important to women with greater HIV knowledge. However, WLHIV who had been diagnosed with HIV for a longer time placed more emphasis on partner preference and community opinion, and less importance on MTCT risk. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) was less important to women experiencing intimate partner violence and those with depression. Findings highlight the need for tailored, focused interventions to support the unique circumstances of WLHIV and support the inclusion of families and/or partners in the counseling process. Results underscore the need for perinatal preconception counseling for women during routine HIV care.

Facilitating and supporting HIV+ parenthood: Lessons for developing the advocate role of voluntary HIV support services workers

OBJECTIVE

Increasingly as people living with HIV (PLWHIV) aim to become parents, they engage with HIV voluntary services for support through either fertility or adoption services. Yet, little is known about the role of HIV support services workers in facilitating access to fertility treatment or child adoption. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of HIV support workers based in HIV voluntary organisations who have a key role helping PLWHIV in navigating relevant fertility and adoption processes.

METHODS

This was an exploratory qualitative study which involved interviewing six HIV support workers, from across the UK. Interviews were conducted using face to face interviews, recorded and transcribed.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that HIV services support workers provide practical support in advocating service provision, and emotional and social support along the journey. They also face challenges in their role from health care professionals including information sharing and gatekeeping.

CONCLUSION

The role of HIV support workers is important in facilitating access to resources and complex systems. HIV support workers should be recognised and as they are often a trusted professional to address stigma, discrimination and barriers to services. The study contributes to research seeking to understand the emerging needs and support requirements for people living with HIV seeking fertility and adoption. Further work in this area is warranted.

Sexual and reproductive health behavior and unmet needs among a sample of adolescents living with HIV in Zambia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Adolescents living with HIV face challenges, such as disclosure of HIV status, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). These challenges affect their future quality of life. However, little evidence is available on their sexual behaviors and SRH needs in Zambia. This study aimed at assessing their sexual behaviors and SRH needs and identifying factors associated with marriage concerns and a desire to have children.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Teaching Hospital from April to July 2014. We recruited 200 adolescents aged 15-19 years who were aware of their HIV-positive status. We collected data on their first and recent sexual behavior, concerns about marriage, and desire to have children. We used the Generalized Linear Model to identify factors associated with having concerns about marriage and desire to have children. We performed thematic analysis with open-ended data to determine their perceptions about marriage and having children in the future.

RESULTS

Out of 175 studied adolescents, 20.6% had experienced sexual intercourse, and only 44.4% used condoms during the first intercourse. Forty-eight percent had concerns about marriage, and 87.4% desired to have children. Marriage-related concerns were high among those who desired to have children (adjusted relative risk [ARR] = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.02 to 6.14). Adolescents who had completed secondary school were more likely to desire to have children (ARR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.71). Adolescents who had lost both parents were less likely to want children (ARR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.68 to 0.95). Thematic analysis identified that major concerns about future marriage were fear of disclosing HIV status to partners and risk of infecting partners and/or children. The reasons for their willingness to have children were the desire to be a parent, having children as family assets, a human right, and a source of love and happiness.

CONCLUSIONS

Zambian adolescents living with HIV are at risk of engaging in risky sexual relationships and have difficulties in meeting needs of SRH. HIV care service must respond to a wide range of needs.

Stigma gets in my way: Factors affecting client-provider communication regarding childbearing among people living with HIV in Uganda

INTRODUCTION

Many HIV-affected couples living in sub-Saharan Africa desire to have children, but few quantitative studies have examined support for their childbearing needs. Our study explored client-provider communication about childbearing and safer conception among HIV clients in Uganda.

METHODS

400 Ugandan HIV clients in committed relationships and with intentions to conceive were surveyed. Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to childbearing, and use of safer conception methods were assessed, including communication with providers about childbearing needs, the correlates of which were examined with bivariate statistics and logistic multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

75% of the sample was female; 61% were on antiretroviral therapy; and 61% had HIV-negative or unknown status partners. Nearly all (98%) reported the desire to discuss childbearing intentions with their HIV provider; however, only 44% reported such discussions, the minority (28%) of which was initiated by the provider. Issues discussed with HIV providers included: HIV transmission risk to partner (30%), HIV transmission risk to child (30%), and how to prevent transmission to the child (27%); only 8% discussed safer conception methods. Regression analysis showed that those who had communicated with providers about childbearing were more likely to have been diagnosed with HIV for a longer period [OR (95% CI) = 1.09 (1.03, 1.15)], while greater internalized childbearing stigma was associated with lower odds of this communication [OR (95% CI) = 0.70 (0.49, 0.99)], after controlling for all bivariate correlates and basic demographics.

CONCLUSIONS

Communication between HIV clients and providers about childbearing needs is poor and associated with stigma. Innovations to mitigate stigma among clients as well as training to improve health worker communication and skills related to safer conception counseling is needed.

Fertility intentions of prenatal and postpartum HIV-positive women in primary care in Mpumalanga province, South Africa: a longitudinal study

Introduction

This study aimed to assess fertility intentions (planning to have more children in the future) and associated factors among pregnant and postpartum HIV positive women in rural South Africa.

Methods

In a longitudinal study, as part of a prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) intervention trial, 699 HIV positive prenatal women, were systematically recruited and followed up at 6 months and 12 months postpartum (retention rate = 59.5%).

Results

At baseline, 32.9% of the women indicated fertility intentions and at 12 months postnatal, 120 (28.0%) reported fertility intentions. In longitudinal analyses, which included time-invariant baseline characteristics predicting fertility intention over time, not having children, having a partner with unknown/HIV-negative status, and having disclosed their HIV status to their partner, were associated with fertility intentions. In a model with time-varying covariates, decreased family planning knowledge, talking to a provider about a future pregnancy, and increased male involvement were associated with fertility intentions.

Conclusion

Results support ongoing perinatal family planning and PMTCT education.

Current and future contraceptive options for women living with HIV

INTRODUCTION

Among women living with HIV, half of the pregnancies are unintended. Effective contraception can prevent unintended pregnancies and consequently reduce maternal mortality and perinatal transmission of HIV. While contraceptive options available for all women also apply to women living with HIV, specific considerations exist to the use of contraception by women living with HIV.

AREAS COVERED

First, general principles guiding the use of contraception among women living with HIV are discussed, such as choice, method mix, relative effectiveness, and drug-drug interactions. Second, a detailed discussion of each contraceptive method and issues surrounding the use of that method, such as drug-drug interactions, follows. Third, future contraceptive options in advanced development for use by women or men are briefly discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

Contraceptive methods available to all women should also be accessible to women living with HIV. When the relative effectiveness of a contraceptive method is reduced, for example due to drug-drug interactions with antiretrovirals, the method should still be made available to women living with HIV with the appropriate information sharing and counseling. Greater research on various aspects of contraceptive use by women living with HIV and more comprehensive testing of co-administration of hormonal contraceptives and common medications used by these women are warranted.

Supporting HIV prevention and reproductive goals in an HIV-endemic setting: taking safer conception services from policy to practice in South Africa

Introduction: Safer conception care encompasses HIV care, treatment and prevention for persons living with HIV and their partners who desire children. In 2012, South Africa endorsed a progressive safer conception policy supporting HIV-affected persons to safely meet reproductive goals. However, aside from select research-supported clinics, widespread implementation has not occurred. Using South Africa as a case study, we identify key obstacles to policy implementation and offer recommendations to catalyse expansion of these services throughout South Africa and further afield.

Discussion: Four key implementation barriers were identified by combining authors’ safer conception service delivery experiences with available literature. First, strategic implementation frameworks stipulating where, and by whom, safer conception services should be provided are needed. Integrating safer conception services into universal test-and-treat (UTT) and elimination-of-mother-to-child-transmission (eMTCT) priority programmes would support HIV testing, ART initiation and management, viral suppression and early antenatal/eMTCT care engagement goals, reducing horizontal and vertical transmissions. Embedding measurable safer conception targets into these priority programmes would ensure accountability for implementation progress. Second, facing an organizational clinic culture that often undermines clients’ reproductive rights, healthcare providers’ (HCP) positive experiences with eMTCT and enthusiasm for UTT provide opportunities to shift facility-level and individual attitudes in favour of safer conception provision. Third, safer conception guidelines have not been incorporated into HCP training. Combining safer conception with “test-and-treat” training would efficiently ensure that providers are better equipped to discuss clients’ reproductive goals and support safer conception practices. Lastly, HIV-affected couples remain largely unaware of safer conception strategies. HIV-affected populations need to be mobilized to engage with safer conception options alongside other HIV-related healthcare services.

Conclusion: Key barriers to widespread safer conception service provision in South Africa include poor translation of policy into practical and measurable implementation plans, inadequate training and limited community engagement. South Africa should leverage the momentum and accountability associated with high priority UTT and eMTCT programmes to reinvigorate implementation efforts by incorporating safer conception into implementation and monitoring frameworks and associated HCP training and community engagement activities. South Africa’s experiences should be used to inform policy development and implementation processes in other HIV high-burden countries.

Client uptake of safer conception strategies: implementation outcomes from the Sakh'umndeni Safer Conception Clinic in South Africa

Introduction: Implementation of safer conception services for HIV-affected couples within primary healthcare clinics in resource-limited settings remains limited. We review service utilization and safer conception strategy uptake during the first three years of Sakh’umndeni, which is a safer conception clinic in South Africa.

Methods:Sakh’umndeni is located at Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre, a high-volume primary healthcare clinic in northern Johannesburg. Men and women desiring to conceive in less than or equal to six months and in relationships in which one or both partners are living with HIV are eligible for safer conception services. Clients receive a baseline health assessment and counselling around periconception HIV risk reduction strategies and choose which strategies they plan to use. Clients are followed-up monthly. We describe client service utilization and uptake and continuation of safer conception methods. Factors associated with male partner attendance are assessed using robust Poisson regression.

Results: Overall 440 individuals utilized the service including 157 couples in which both partners attended (55%) and 126 unaccompanied female partners. Over half of the couples (55%) represented were in serodiscordant/unknown status relationships. Higher economic status and HIV-negative status of the women increased male partner involvement, while HIV-negative status of the men decreased male involvement. Regarding safer conception strategies, uptake of antiretroviral therapy initiation (90%), vaginal self-insemination among partnerships with HIV-negative men (75%) and timed condomless intercourse strategies (48%) were variable, but generally high. Overall uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was 23% and was lower among HIV-negative men than women (7% vs. 44%, p < 0.001). Male medical circumcision (MMC) was used by 28% of HIV-negative men. Over 80% of clients took up at least one recommended safer conception strategy. Continuation of selected strategies over attempted conception attempts was >60%.

Conclusions: Safer conception strategies are generally used by clients per recommendations. High uptake of strategies suggests that the proposed combination prevention methods are acceptable to clients and appropriate for scale-up; however, low uptake of PrEP and MMC among HIV-negative men needs improvement. Targeted community-based efforts to reach men unlinked to safer conception services are needed, alongside streamlined approaches for service scale-up within existing HIV and non-HIV service delivery platforms.

Interprofessional working: adoption assessments for people living with HIV

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose that interprofessional working between professionals who work with people living with HIV (PLWHIV) contributes to improvements in the health, social care needs and long-term outcomes of PLWHIV. Interprofessional working initiatives have been useful in promoting successful frameworks used towards improving various aspects of the HIV disease family planning and transmission prevention. The paper proposes that interprofessional working is important in elevating stigma and discrimination that sometimes prevent PLWHIV from successfully achieving parenthood through adoption. The objective of this study is to contribute to social work practice and literature that supports adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study looking at the experiences of PLWHIV going through the adoption process. The study relied on in-depth interviews with six PLWHIV who had gone through the adoption process and presented views regarding a need for better collaborative working by those assessing PLWHIV going through adoption. The sample was purpose and homogeneous. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using IPA framework. Transcripts had been written up and analysed individually. Following which a cross-case analysis to create meaning and conceptual understanding that was common among all cases.

Findings

Drawing on themes around interprofessional working, this paper argues that there is a need for improved and transparent interprofessional working models within adoption systems. The paper provides conceptual understanding around interprofessional working and how this can be brought about to support the needs of PLWHIV seeking to adopt children. It proposes that working in isolation will leave PLWHIV feeling that the adoption process is ambiguous and unfair, yet efforts to combat this are evident in healthcare settings.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations to this study include an acceptable but small convenience sample within IPA methodological approaches. This is a hard to reach sample and results may not be generalisable.

Practical implications

This paper opens a dialogue for discussing issues around the adoption for PLWHIV and informing professionals about increasing opportunities for PLWHIV to adopt children where there is a high demand for adoptive parents.

Social implications

Placing the views of participants in this study within the body of knowledge could influence meaningful collaboration between adoption social workers and those supporting PLWHIV within health, social care and voluntary sectors. This may influence change and reduce stigma and barriers preventing some PLWHIV from successfully adopting children.

Originality/value

This paper meets an identified need to explore how PLWHIV can be supported to achieve parenthood. The paper expands on existing knowledge around the need to provide fertility treatment to PLWHIV. It suggests that child adoption can be promoted through child adoption and ultimately promoting normalcy around the desires of PLWHIV to achieve parenthood using non-traditional methods of conception.

Prevalence of fertility desire and its associated factors among 15- to 49-year-old people living with HIV/AIDS in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study design

Background

The magnitude of unprotected sex to satisfy the desire for fertility among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) may rise more due to the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in most HIV-affected countries. This could, however, have the risk of passing on HIV to sexual partners and children. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the magnitude and factors associated with the fertility desire of reproductive-age PLHIV in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for research-based and timely actions.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out from April to June 2016 among 442 randomly selected, reproductive-age PLHIV who had been attending ART clinics in Addis Ababa. Twelve experienced and trained nurses collected the data. The questionnaire was pretested and interviewer-administered, and the interview was executed after obtaining voluntary consent from each study subject. The data were then cleaned and analyzed by using Epi Info version 3.5.4 and SPSS version 20.0, respectively. Binary logistic regression was done in order to describe the association of fertility desire with some sociodemographic and sexual behavior-related factors.

Results

Among the total 441 respondents, 54.6% reported the desire for fertility, 87% disclosed their HIV status, 24.3% had two or more sexual partners in the earlier year, and only 55.6% used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. In addition, current health status (AOR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.01–4.07) and partner being tested for HIV (AOR=6.31; 95% CI: 1.35–29.64) showed statistically significant associations with fertility desire during multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion

A considerable number of PLHIV in the study area reported a desire for having children. Current health status and partner being tested for HIV were found to be factors associated with the fertility desire among PLHIV. Thus, more efforts to effectively address the health concerns related to fertility desire and risky sexual behavior among HIV-infected people of reproductive age could play a significant role in prevention and control measures against HIV/AIDS epidemic.

HIV status and treatment influence on fertility desires among women newly becoming eligible for antiretroviral therapy in western Kenya: insights from a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Factors influencing fertility desires among HIV-infected individuals remain poorly understood. With new recommendations for universal HIV treatment and increasing antiretroviral therapy (ART) access, we sought to evaluate how access to early ART influences fertility desires among HIV-infected ART-naïve women.

METHODS

Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with a select subgroup of 20 HIV-infected ART-naïve women attending one of 13 HIV facilities in western Kenya between July and August 2014 who would soon newly become eligible to initiate ART based on the latest national policy recommendations. The interviews covered four major themes: 1) definitions of family and children's role in community; 2) personal, interpersonal, institutional, and societal factors influencing fertility desires; 3) influence of HIV-positive status on fertility desires; and 4) influence of future ART initiation on fertility desires. An iterative process of reading transcripts, applying inductive codes, and comparing and contrasting codes was used to identify convergent and divergent themes.

RESULTS

The women indicated their HIV-positive status did influence-largely negatively-their fertility desires. Furthermore, initiating ART and anticipating improved health status did not necessarily translate to increased fertility desires. Instead, individual factors, such as age, parity, current health status, financial resources and number of surviving or HIV-infected children, played a crucial role in decisions about future fertility. In addition, societal influences, such as community norms and health providers' expectations of their fertility desires, played an equally important role in determining fertility desires.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating ART may not be the leading factor influencing fertility desires among previously ART-naïve HIV-infected women. Instead, individual and societal factors appear to be the major determinants of fertility desires among these women.

Prevalence and Correlates of Use of Safer Conception Methods in a Prospective Cohort of Ugandan HIV-Affected Couples with Fertility Intentions

We examined the prevalence and correlates of safer conception methods (SCM) use in HIV-affected couples with fertility intentions. A prospective cohort of 400 HIV clients in Uganda who had fertility intentions with their partner was surveyed every 6 months for 24 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine individual, relationship and provider level predictors of SCM use. Over one-third (35%) reported any use of timed unprotected intercourse (TUI) during the study; use of other SCM was rare. Baseline predictors of any TUI use included lower social support, greater perceived provider stigma of childbearing, greater SCM awareness, greater control over sexual decision making in the relationship, inconsistent condom use, and the belief that a desire for childbearing impedes condom use. These findings highlight the need for policy and provider training regarding integration of safer conception counselling into family planning and reproductive health services for people living with HIV.

Childbearing intentions among sexually active HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected female adolescents in South Africa

Women of reproductive age account for nearly half of all HIV-infected people worldwide. Childbearing intention among HIV-infected women is complicated by social and reproductive concerns related to their HIV status. We conducted a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected sexually active South African women aged 17 to 21 in order to compare their childbearing intentions and to identify predictors of the desire to have children among women with HIV. We found the rate of childbearing intention to be similarly high among both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected study participants (80 and 79% respectively, p=0.81). History of previous parity was found to be associated with decreased intention to have children. No difference in childbearing intention was found between HIV-infected women on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and women not on ART. High rates of childbearing intention among HIV-infected women require integration of reproductive health services with comprehensive HIV/AIDS care in order to mitigate the risks of sexual and vertical transmission of HIV.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy on changes in the fertility intentions of human immunodeficiency virus-positive women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a prospective follow-up study

OBJECTIVES

With access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are able to consider childbearing to a greater extent than previously. In many cases, ART has transformed their intentions to have children. The present study aimed to assess changes in fertility intentions 12 months after ART initiation among HIV-positive women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

METHODS

An institution-based follow-up study was conducted among 360 HIV-positive women in Addis Ababa. A logistic regression model was used to assess the influence of socio-demographic, reproductive health, and clinical characteristics on changes in the fertility intentions of women.

RESULTS

Overall, 40.8% (147 of 360) of the women reported that they desired to have a child in the future at the baseline visit, while 48.3% (174 of 360) did so at the 12-month follow-up. The proportion of women who reported that they desired to have a child 12 months after ART initiation was higher among ART-initiated women (55.8%, 106 of 190) than ART-naïve women (40.0%, 68 of 170). The adjusted analysis indicated that a change in fertility intentions between baseline and the follow-up visit was significantly associated with ART use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 5.20) and marital status, with single (aOR, 5.33; 95% CI, 1.10 to 25.92) and married (aOR, 6.35; 95% CI, 1.44 to 27.99) women being more likely to report fertility intentions than divorced/widowed women.

CONCLUSIONS

ART use was a significant predictor of change in fertility intentions between the baseline and follow-up visit, which suggests that additional efforts are necessary to integrate family planning and HIV services to address the safe fertility goals of women in the study area.

Effect of Pregnancy on Response to Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected African Women

BACKGROUND

While most recent evidence does not support a role for pregnancy in accelerating HIV disease progression, very little information is available on the effects of incident pregnancy in response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Hormonal, immune, and behavioral changes during pregnancy may influence response to ART. We sought to explore the effects of incident pregnancy (after ART initiation) on virologic, immunologic, and clinical response to ART.

METHODS

Data were collected from HIV-infected women participating in 3 prospective studies (Partners in Prevention Herpes simplex virus/HIV Transmission Study, Couples Observational Study, and Partners Preexposure Prophylaxis Study) from 7 countries in Africa from 2004 to 2012. Women were included in this analysis if they were ≤45 years of age, were started on ART during the study and were not pregnant at ART initiation. Pregnancy was treated as a time-dependent exposure variable covering the duration of pregnancy, including all pregnancies occurring after ART initiation. Virologic failure was defined as a viral load (VL) greater than 400 copies per milliliter ≥6 months after ART initiation and viral suppression was defined as VL ≤400 copies per milliliter. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between pregnancy and time to viral suppression, virologic failure, World Health Organization clinical stage III/IV, and death. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the association between pregnancy and CD4 count and VL. All analyses were adjusted for confounders, including pre-ART CD4 count and plasma VL.

RESULTS

A total of 1041 women were followed, contributing 1196.1 person-years of follow-up. Median CD4 count before ART initiation was 276 cells per cubic millimeter (interquartile range, 209-375); median pre-ART VL was 17,511 copies per milliliter (interquartile range, 2480-69,286). One hundred ten women became pregnant after ART initiation. Pregnancy was not associated with time to viral suppression (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82 to 1.77), time to virologic failure (aHR, 0.67, 95% CI: 0.37 to 1.22), time to World Health Organization clinical stage III or IV (aHR, 0.79, 95% CI: 0.19 to 3.30), or time to death (aHR, 2.04, 95% CI: 0.25 to 16.8). Incident pregnancy was associated with an adjusted mean decrease in CD4 T-cell count of 47.3 cells per cubic millimeter (P < 0.001), but not with difference in VL (P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

For HIV-infected women on ART, incident pregnancy does not affect virologic control or clinical HIV disease progression. A modest decrease in CD4 T-cell count could be due to physiologic effects of pregnancy.

Factors influencing reproductive choices of HIV positive individuals attending primary health care facilities in a South African health district

BACKGROUND

There is global recognition of the reproductive health rights of people living with HIV (PLHIV). The aim of this research study was to explore the reproductive choices, and the factors influencing these choices, of HIV positive patients attending primary health care (PHC) facilities in the Ekurhuleni health district of the Gauteng Province of South Africa.

METHODS

During 2013, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Ekurhuleni health district. At each of three randomly selected community health centres, a random sample of HIV positive patients was selected. After informed consent was obtained, trained fieldworkers administered a structured questionnaire that elicited information on socio-demographics, reproductive choices and knowledge of reproductive options. Survey data were analysed using STATA® 13.

RESULTS

The majority of survey participants (n = 430) were female (70%) and unemployed (57%). The mean age of participants was 36.4 years (SD 8.6): 40.8 years (SD 8.7) for men and 34.5 years (SD7.8) for women. Among survey participants, 46% expressed a desire for children (95% CI: 41.4-50.9). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, predictors of desire for children were age less than 49 years, marriage or living together, and no biological children. The odds of wanting children was 16.48 [95% CI: 5.94-45.74] times higher for PLHIV without children, compared with those with two or more children, while for those less than 25 years, the odds of wanting children was 0.78 [95% CI: 0.23-2.59] compared with those older than 50 years. The PLHIV knowledge on the available reproductive options was limited, with the majority relying on the guidance of the health workers.

CONCLUSION

Health care providers at PHC level should be educated to address the reproductive health needs of PLHIV. These aspects should be reflected in provincial and national health policies.

"I was in the darkness but the group brought me light": Development, relevance and feasibility of the Sondela HIV adjustment and coping intervention

Developing interventions that address psychosocial wellbeing of people living with HIV is critical to ensure strong linkages to and retention in HIV care. This paper describes the development of Sondela, an HIV adjustment and coping intervention for heterosexual men and women living with HIV, and its relevance and feasibility in the South African context. Sondela is a six three-hour, small group-based, participatory workshop series. We followed an iterative, multi-phased process of curriculum development that involved research, theoretical frameworks and piloting. A systematic review highlighted the absence of psychosocial interventions targeting heterosexual HIV positive populations living in high HIV prevalence and resource-poor settings. Formative studies demonstrated risk and social factors associated with adjustment and coping with HIV, emphasising the need for interventions that acknowledge gendered experiences. Our pilot of Sondela demonstrated high levels of relevance and feasibility. Men appreciated the workshop "space" to openly talk about their HIV positive status and what is means for their role as partners and fathers and friends. Women valued the skills and approaches because they were relevant to "real life" situations and not just about HIV. Sondela promises to be valuable in supporting health system initiatives and psychosocial support to strengthen linkages to and retention in HIV care, and this suggests a need for rigorous evaluation of Sondela to establish evidence for its effectiveness in a general population.

Should They Also Have Babies? Community Attitudes Toward Sexual and Reproductive Rights of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

People living with HIV have the right to healthy, satisfying sex lives and to appropriate services to ensure their sexual and reproductive health, including having healthy children. The reproductive rights of people living with HIV/AIDS are, however, often met with skepticism and discrimination, despite recent advances in HIV treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the attitudes of community members in Kano, Nigeria, toward the right of persons living with HIV/AIDS to have healthy sexual relationships and bear children.

METHODS

A cross-section of 399 adults was interviewed using pretested structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain adjusted estimates for predictors of agreement with the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS to bear children.

FINDINGS

A substantial proportion of respondents (28.6%) strongly agreed and agreed (10.5%) that persons with HIV/AIDS should not be allowed to marry. More than a fifth of the respondents disagreed (16.0%) and strongly disagreed (8.0%) with the rights of HIV-infected persons to bear children. Agreement with the statement "HIV-infected persons should have biological children" was independently associated with higher educational status (adjusted odds ratio: 2.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.82-6.73) and awareness of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission effectiveness (adjusted odds ratio: 2.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.92-5.37). Of those who agreed that HIV-infected persons should have children (n = 253), 17.8% and 26.1% strongly agreed and agreed, respectively, that persons living with HIV/AIDS should be restricted to having fewer children. Further, 11.5% and 4.8% of respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed, respectively, that infertile HIV-infected couples should receive fertility treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

People living with HIV/AIDS face discriminatory attitudes to their reproductive rights in northern Nigeria. There is a need for effective, culturally appropriate information, education, and communication approaches to improving community perceptions of sexual and reproductive rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Emtonjeni-A Structural Intervention to Integrate Sexual and Reproductive Health into Public Sector HIV Care in Cape Town, South Africa: Results of a Phase II Study

Integration of sexual and reproductive health within HIV care services is a promising strategy for increasing access to family planning and STI services and reducing unwanted pregnancies, perinatal HIV transmission and maternal and infant mortality among people living with HIV and their partners. We conducted a Phase II randomized futility trial of a multi-level intervention to increase adherence to safer sex guidelines among those wishing to avoid pregnancy and adherence to safer conception guidelines among those seeking conception in newly-diagnosed HIV-positive persons in four public-sector HIV clinics in Cape Town. Clinics were pair-matched and the two clinics within each pair were randomized to either a three-session provider-delivered enhanced intervention (EI) (onsite contraceptive services and brief milieu intervention for staff) or standard-of-care (SOC) provider-delivered intervention. The futility analysis showed that we cannot rule out the possibility that the EI intervention has a 10 % point or greater success rate in improving adherence to safer sex/safer conception guidelines than does SOC (p = 0.573), indicating that the intervention holds merit, and a larger-scale confirmatory study showing whether the EI is superior to SOC has merit.

An Approach to Developing a Prediction Model of Fertility Intent Among HIV-Positive Women and Men in Cape Town, South Africa: A Case Study

As a 'case-study' to demonstrate an approach to establishing a fertility-intent prediction model, we used data collected from recently diagnosed HIV-positive women (N = 69) and men (N = 55) who reported inconsistent condom use and were enrolled in a sexual and reproductive health intervention in public sector HIV care clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Three theoretically-driven prediction models showed reasonable sensitivity (0.70-1.00), specificity (0.66-0.94), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.79-0.89) for predicting fertility intent at the 6-month visit. A k-fold cross-validation approach was employed to reduce bias due to over-fitting of data in estimating sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve. We discuss how the methods presented might be used in future studies to develop a clinical screening tool to identify HIV-positive individuals likely to have future fertility intent and who could therefore benefit from sexual and reproductive health counseling around fertility options.

HIV status, fertility intentions, and contraception in the era of expanded access to antiretroviral therapy: A case study of rural Mozambique

Provision of effective contraception to HIV-positive women of reproductive age is critical to effective management of HIV infection and prevention of both vertical and horizontal HIV transmission in developing countries. This exploratory retrospective study examines contraceptive use during the prolonged post-partum period in a sample of 285 HIV-positive and HIV-negative women who gave birth at four rural maternity clinics in a high HIV-prevalence region in Mozambique. Multivariate analyses show no significant variations by HIV status in contraceptive timing (mean time to first contraceptive use of 7.1 months) or prevalence (31% at time of survey) but detect a moderating effect of fertility intentions: while HIV status makes no difference for women wishing to stop childbearing, among women who want to continue having children, or are unsure about their reproductive plans, HIV-positive status is associated with higher likelihood of contraceptive use. Regardless of HIV status, virtually no condom use is reported. These results are situated within the context of a rapidly widening access to post-partum antiretroviral therapy in the study site and similar sub-Saharan settings.

A Novel Safer Conception Counseling Toolkit for the Prevention of HIV: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation in Kisumu, Kenya

Safer conception strategies can prevent HIV transmission between HIV-discordant partners while allowing them to conceive. However, HIV care providers in sub-Saharan Africa report they are not trained in safer conception, and patients are not routinely offered safer conception services. This mixed-methods pilot study evaluated the impact, acceptability, and feasibility of a novel Safer Conception Counseling Toolkit among providers and patients in Kenya. We enrolled 20 HIV-positive women, 10 HIV-discordant couples, and 10 providers from HIV care and treatment clinics. Providers completed questionnaires before/after training, and then counseled HIV-affected patients. Change in patient knowledge was assessed before/after counseling. Qualitative interviews were conducted among providers and patients. The Toolkit was associated with large, significant increases in patient knowledge, and provider confidence, knowledge, and favorable attitudes toward safer conception counseling; 20% felt confident before versus 100% after training (p < 0.01).

Low Receipt and Uptake of Safer Conception Messages in Routine HIV Care: Findings From a Prospective Cohort of Women Living With HIV in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Safer conception strategies may be used by people living with HIV to reduce HIV transmission to partners resulting from condomless sex for conception. The extent to which people living with HIV receive safer conception messages and use risk reduction strategies is largely unknown.

METHODS

We use prospective data from a clinic-based cohort study in Johannesburg, South Africa. Women living with HIV (WLWH) aged 18-35 on antiretroviral therapy (n = 831) completed a baseline survey and ≥1 follow-up visits assessing fertility intentions and pregnancy incidence; an endline survey was administered 1 year postenrollment. Multivariate negative binomial regression models examined differences in the number of condomless sex acts by fertility intentions. Chi-squared statistics compared receipt of safer conception messages by fertility intentions and indicators of safer conception method use by partner HIV status.

RESULTS

The median baseline age of participants was 30.4 years and 25.3% were in serodiscordant partnerships. WLWH trying to conceive were over 3 times more likely to have condomless sex compared with those not trying to conceive (adjusted incidence rate ratio: 3.17, 95% confidence interval: 1.95 to 5.16). Receipt of specific safer conception messages was low, although women with positive fertility intentions were more likely to have received any fertility-related advice compared with those with unplanned pregnancies (76.3% vs. 49.1%, P < 0.001). Among WLWH trying to conceive (n = 111), use of timed unprotected intercourse was infrequent (17.1%) and lower in serodiscordant vs. concordant partnerships (8.5% vs. 26.9%, P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that clinic and patient-level interventions are needed to ensure that WLWH receive and use safer conception strategies.