FACTORS AFFECTING FERTILITY DESIER AMONG HIV-POSITIVE WOMEN CLIENTS OF HOME BASED CARE SERVICE IN FOUR TOWNS OF OROMIA REGION

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.