The Effect of Integrating Family Planning with HIV and Aids Services on Contraceptives Uptake among HIV Positive Women

Abstract

Background: Integrating Family Planning (FP) into HIV services provides opportunity to increase access to contraception among clients. However, data on the effectiveness of FP/HIV integration on FP uptake is limited. Objective: Determine the effect of FP/HIV services integration, focusing on FP integration with Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Methods: A cross-sectional comparative design was conducted in facilities with and without FP/ART integration in four major regions of Ethiopia. The study population included HIV positive women attending ART clinics. Data were collected using structured questionnaire from 843 and 691 HIV positive women in intervention and comparison facilities respectively from April 23 to May 2, 2012. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0 and proportions and relevant associations were computed. Results: Most of the women (94.7%) received one or more HIV services. In both groups, 736 (48.2%) women used any type of FP method; the majority (97%) used modern FP and 54.6% used injectables. Over all CPR was 48%; with higher CPR in intervention than comparison group (52.6 %versus 42.9%) [AOR (95%CI) =1.23, (1.23, 1.92). A higher proportion of women in intervention than comparison group used dual methods [AOR (95%CI) =1.50 (1.01, 2.2)]. Total unmet need for FP in the study was 16.2 percent. There was no significant difference in unmet need for FP between intervention and comparison groups (15.7% vs. 16.9% respectively) [(OR 0.94 95% CI (0.63, 1.39)]. Conclusion and Recommendation: FP/HIV integration improved CPR and use of dual methods showing the benefit of FP/HIV integration. However, there was no difference in unmet need for FP between the two groups calling the need for more research.