HIV status, fertility intentions, and contraception in the era of expanded access to antiretroviral therapy: A case study of rural Mozambique

Abstract

Provision of effective contraception to HIV positive women of reproductive age is critical to effective management of HIV infection and prevention of both vertical and horizontal HIV transmission in developing countries. This exploratory retrospective study examines contraceptive use during the prolonged postpartum period in a sample of 285 HIV positive and HIV negative women who gave birth at four rural maternity clinics in a high HIV-prevalence region in Mozambique. Multivariate analyses show no significant variations by HIV status in contraceptive timing (mean time to first contraceptive use of 7.1 months) or prevalence (31% at time of survey) but detect a moderating effect of fertility intentions: while HIV status makes no difference for women wishing to stop childbearing, among women who want to continue having children or are unsure about their reproductive plans, HIV positive status is associated with higher likelihood of contraceptive use. Regardless of HIV status, virtually no condom use is reported. These results are situated within the context of a rapidly widening access to postpartum antiretroviral therapy in the study site and similar sub-Saharan settings.