Contraception use among HIV-positive women attending ART clinic: a cross-sectional study in Halibet Referral Hospital

Background: Providing preferred methods of contraceptive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women and avoiding unintended pregnancy is one of the primary means of preventing mother to child transmission of HIV. This study assessed the prevalence of contraceptive use and method preference among HIV-positive women in Halibet Referral Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea. Patients and methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-positive women in Halibet Referral Hospital, Asmara. Data were collected by interviewing HIV-positive women using a pretested and structured questionnaire. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with contraceptive use, and odd ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated to measure the strength of association. Results: A total of 196 women living with HIV were interviewed. The mean age of the study participants was 39.1 years (SD±6 y). The prevalence of current contraceptive use was 16.8%. The preferred and most commonly used contraceptive methods were male condom (45.5%) and injectable (36.4%). Younger age [adjusted odds ratio: 1.6 (1.1, 7.8), P=0.04], Married [adjusted odds ratio: 2.1 (1.4, 7.7), P=0.001], having more than 4 child [1.5 (1.1, 9.3), P=0.03], contraception counselling [1.8 (1.1, 5.4), P=0.02] were the only factors influencing contraception use. Conclusion: Utilization of contraceptives among the participants was low (16.8%). Being young, married, regularly counselled about contraceptives, and having more than 4 children were factors facilitating contraceptive use. Policy makers should design counselling programs to increase utilization of contraceptives among HIV positive women.