Family Planning Services Utilization and Contraceptive Choices among HIV Positive Women at RSUTH, Southern Nigeria
Author(s): Nonye-Enyidah Esther Ijeoma*, Jumbo AI and Enyidah Nonyenim Solomon
Abstract
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) present a huge challenge to public health, particularly among women in developing countries. Nigeria has the second highest burden of the diseases worldwide and Rivers state is one of the 36 states in Nigeria with the highest prevalence of the disease. Utilization of family planning services by women living with human immunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) is an effective means to prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the transmission risks but it is often neglected in many settings. This study assessed the utilization of family planning services and method preference among WLHIV in Rivers state. Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective study of clients who sought contraceptive services at the family planning clinic of RSUTH from 1st January, 2015 to 31st December, 2019. Records from the family planning clinic were reviewed, data obtained was analysed with SPSS version 23 Results: Seventeen (1.95%) out of 874 clients who utilized family planning services were HIV positive, the clients were all married, parous and had a mean age of 32.06 ± 5.94 years. Most (41.2%) belong to age group 30-34 years. They were all Christians and only 1 (5.9%) client did not have formal education. Their contraceptive choices were IUCD (35.3%) implant (58.8%) oral contraceptive pills (5.9%) with a discontinuation rate of 23.5%. Conclusion: The prevalence of contraceptive uptake among WLHIV in Rivers State is very low, which probably may lead to high rate of unwanted pregnancy and transmission risk. Thus, there is a need to integrate the family planning clinic with the HIV clinic in Rivers State.