Factors Affecting Reproductive Decisions of African American Women Living with HIV

Abstract

Health care providers must be aware of these concerns and convey clear and accurate information through the most readily accepted channels. Participants suggested that messages about these issues be conveyed by other women living with HIV who have faced these same decisions.

A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing Fertility Desires and Intentions Among People Living with HIV/AIDS: Implications for Policy and Service Delivery

“…HIV-infected women were mainly concerned about infecting their partners and future children and were also worried about the effects of future pregnancies on their own health (Baek and Rutenberg 2005;Cooper et al 2007;Craft et al 2007;Kanniappan et al 2008;Oosterhoff et al 2008;Richter et al 2002;Siegel and Schrimshaw 2001;Wesley et al 2000). Some HIV-infected men had similar concerns (Paiva et al 2003).…”

“…Many women desired to look after their own children and worried that other people including family members might not look after their children adequately (Richter et al 2002). Some were concerned about leaving behind HIV-infected orphans who would be particularly vulnerable.…”

“…In Kenya, HIVinfected women were almost eight times less likely to want to have children than HIV negative women (Baek and Rutenberg 2005). Seventy percent of PLHIV in Georgia and South Carolina, USA had no plans to have any more children (Richter et al 2002), while 89% of PLHIV female respondents in Zimbabwe felt that PLHIV couples should not have children (Feldman and Maposhere 2003). A New Orleans study has shown HIV-infected women continue to have children but were less likely to do so than women of the same age in the general population (Bedimo et al 1998).…”

Fertility desires of women living with HIV/aids in northern British Columbia.

“…HIV infected women follow prevailing community norms, intend to have children, and view reproduction as socially and psychologically desirable (Wekesa & Coast, 2014). In sub-Saharan African countries a substantial proportion of women and men who are on HAART wish to have children (Richter, Sowell, & Pluto, 2002;Cooper et al, 2007).…”

“…At this stage, the women's HIV status influenced their decision not to have children in future; pregnancy was not the primary consideration (Richter, Sowell & Pluto, 2002). All the participants in this study were on financial assistance provided by the government.…”