Preconception and contraceptive care for women living with HIV/AIDS attending antiretroviral treatment clinics in Lagos State, Nigeria

TL;DR

This study examines preconception and contraceptive care for women with HIV/AIDS in Lagos, Nigeria, finding that only a minority receive optimal services.

Contribution

The study provides insights into factors influencing contraceptive use and highlights the need for improved care guidelines for HIV-positive women.

Findings

Only 37.4% of women received optimal preconception care services.

Age, marital status, and education level significantly influenced contraceptive use.

There is a need for structured guidelines to improve PC and contraceptive services for HIV-positive women.

Abstract

Women living with HIV/AIDS possess fertility desires similar to their uninfected counterparts, and with advances in health therapies, these women can realistically have and raise uninfected children. Preconception care (PC) is a specialized form of intervention aimed at the prevention, identification, treatment, and management of biomedical, behavioural, and social conditions that militate against safe motherhood and the delivery of healthy offspring.

The study aimed to assess preconception and contraceptive care among women living with HIV and attending Antiretroviral Therapy Clinics in Alimosho, Lagos State, Nigeria.

This was a descriptive facility-based cross-sectional study of 383 women of reproductive age living with HIV/AIDS and attending ART clinics in the study area. Probability sampling methods were used in the selection procedures. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and univariate logistic regression at a 5% level of significance. Stratified and simple random sampling were used in the selection process.

Only 37.4% of respondents received optimal PC services. Being 20-29 years old [OR =1.716 (95% CI: 1.664, 1.769), p = 0.020], being 30-39 years [OR =1.514 (95% CI: 0.598, 3.831), p = 0.005], tertiary education [OR =8.43. (95% CI: 1.41, 18.5), p = 0.020], and being single [OR =2.00 (95% CI: 1.928-2.072), p = 0.002] were significantly related to the utilization of contraceptives.

There is a need to provide structure and guidelines for optimal streamlined PC and contraceptive services for women living with HIV/AIDS.