Abstract
To identify ways to improve prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,092 HIV-infected men and women attending an AIDS support organization in Jinja, Uganda, between October 2003 and June 2004. Pregnancy risk behavior was defined as having sex without contraceptive or condom. Overall, 42% of participants were sexually active, 33% practiced pregnancy risk behavior, and 18% desired more children. Men were almost four times to want more children than the women (27% vs. 7%). Among those practicing pregnancy risk behavior, 73% did not want more children and were at high risk for unwanted pregnancies. Although 81% knew that mother-to-child transmission of HIV could be prevented, only 22% believed that an HIV-infected woman who received PMTCT therapy could still deliver an HIV-infected child. Lack of MTCT information, having attended the program for ≤2 years and desire for children were independently associated with pregnancy risk behavior. PMTCT and other HIV prevention and care programs should ensure provision of family planning for HIV-infected populations who do not want to become pregnant.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) and the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, California, USA). We express our gratitude to The AIDS Service Organization, Uganda for their partnership and for allowing the study to be implemented at their clinic. Great appreciation goes to TASO staff including Cissy Kazibwe, Lucy Atvelink, the Prevention with Positives study team, Frances Babirye and CDC-Uganda staff, especially Zoe Fludd, Flora Banage, David Katuntu and Ritah Nakayinga. Finally, we want to extend our thanks to all the study participants who gave us their time and shared personal information with us.
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Nakayiwa, S., Abang, B., Packel, L. et al. Desire for Children and Pregnancy Risk Behavior among HIV-Infected Men and Women in Uganda. AIDS Behav 10 (Suppl 1), 95–104 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9126-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9126-2