Abstract:
Background
Little information exists about Factors affecting desire to have children among HIV-positive women
especially in developing countries. So knowing circumstances around fertility of HIV-positive
women is crucial to develop and plan effective interventions for mothers and children wellbeing.
Objective
The study was conducted to assess factors affecting fertility desire among HIV positive women and
their perception towards child rearing in Oromia four towns.
Methods
This is a service-based cross-sectional study among HIV-positive individuals receiving Home Based
Care service in four towns (Adama, Shashemene, Asela and Zeway) of Oromia Region in April 2009.
Using a pre tested structured questionnaire 400 randomly selected women with HIV were interviewed
by trained care providers. Data entered to computer program Epi Info version 3.4 and analyzed using
SPSS version 17 software.
Results
All 400 subjects were agreed to participate in the study after verbal consent.
One hundred and twenty eight (32%) of them had a desire for a child. In comparison to those who
said they did not desire to have children, those who did desire children tended to be younger (15–35
years) (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 5.76, 95% CI: 3.23, 10.28), married (adjusted OR: 1.76, 95% CI:
1.26, 2.45), without a child (adjusted OR: 8.03, 95% CI: 4.25, 15.16)
Other characteristics like education, income level and treatment status have no association.
Knowledge of PMTCT is only 4.3% which may exacerbate vertical transmission of HIV. Among
those who desire to have a child, 79% reported they are not able to bring up their child by their own.
Conclusion and Recommendation
In the fact that many HIV infected adults desire and expect to have children has important
implications for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV and the future demand for social
services for children born to infected parents.
For those wanting more children and those perceive child as wealth (with out their capacity) should
carefully take in to consideration. To further explore causes for desire a child; qualitative study is
suggested.
