Background and methodology We examined the effect of becoming HIV-positive on contraceptive practices in a Phase III randomised controlled trial of the diaphragm for HIV prevention. We coded self-reported contraceptive use into seven categories of methods in order of effectiveness. We compared the proportion using each category of contraception at baseline and last visit between women who did and did not become HIV-positive. We compared changes in the proportion using each category of contraception from baseline to last visit and calculated the percentage of women that moved to a more or less effective method category or stayed the same. We examined immediate and long-term changes in contraceptive use category after learning HIV-positive status.

Results A total of 4645 women remained HIV-negative and 309 became HIV-positive. The proportion using each category of contraception was similar between groups at baseline and last visit. In both groups approximately one-fifth changed to a less effective method category between baseline and last visit. Few women reported using long-acting methods. Among HIV-positive women, shorter-term changes in the proportion using each category of contraception were similar to longer-term changes, though somewhat more women were using a method in the same category 3 months after seroconversion.

Discussion and conclusions Learning about HIV-positive status did not appear to significantly change patterns of use of effective contraceptives or the probability of switching to a more or less effective method. Information about, and access to, long-acting methods should receive more attention and be a routine part of family planning programmes and prevention trials.