Knowledge and utilization of family planning methods among people living with HIV in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

BackgroundAddressing family planning (FP) needs of people living with HIV is an effective response to HIV prevention. Healthy timing and spacing of births help ensure the health and well-being of all women and infants, regardless of their HIV-infection. In addition, preventing unintended pregnancies is an important strategy for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. The main purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge of family planning methods and identify factors affecting the utilization of such methods among HIV infected men and women attending two Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) sites of Kathmandu, Nepal.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Two ART sites of Kathmandu were purposively chosen and a sample of 265 respondents (both men and women) was selected based on proportionate probability random sampling. A structured questionnaire was administered face to face to all of the eligible participants.ResultsThe mean ± SD age of the participants was 36.62 ± 7.58 years. Sixty five percent of the respondents’ spouses were HIV positive. A majority of the respondents (72%) had heard of seven modern family planning methods. Considerably high number (72%) of the respondents or their spouses were using at least one of the method of family planning. The most common method was condom (83%) and the least common was IUCD (0.50%). The use of short acting (pills, depo-provera) and long acting (implant, IUCD) family planning methods other than condom dropped from 56.6 to 2% after diagnosis. Utilization of family planning methods was significantly associated with gender, education and HIV status of spouse. Males (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.20–5.07, p = 0.01) educated respondents (AOR = 3.27, 95% CI = 1.41–7.54, p = < 0.01) and individuals whose spouse were not infected with HIV (AOR = 4.70, 95% CI = 1.41–15.67, p = 0.01) were more likely to use FP methods.ConclusionThe tendency for HIV infected men and women to avoid additional child bearing in Nepal is higher compared to sub-Saharan Africa. However, the use of effective methods of family planning is low. Therefore, more effective counselling sessions by service providers regarding the availability and use of alternative family planning methods besides condom is necessary.

Factors associated with modern family planning use among women living with HIV who attended care and treatment clinics in Jigjiga town, Eastern Ethiopia

“…The literature identified multiple factors affecting the use of modern FP. Women’s age, 16 , 21 , 25 , 27 , 32 , 33 level of educational attainment, 18 , 21 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 33 , 34 marital status, 25 , 31 , 35 level of earnings, and wealth status 21 , 25 , 33 , 36 are the factors associated with modern FP method use. Likewise, studies showed having information or knowledge of modern FP, 21 , 30 , 36 – 38 knowledge of HIV-positive status, 39 attitude held by women toward modern FP 21 , 30 is the determinant of modern FP use by women.…”

Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Methods Among People Living With Hiv In Kathmandu Valley

“…Only 11 % of either the respondents or their partner had used the emergency contraceptive pill whereas, in Thailand as per the cohort study 29.6% had used the dual protection (30). In the similar study done in Kaski district of Nepal, 0.83% had used it (5).…”

“…This indicates the need of sufficient counselling and awareness to the PLHIV. A similar study done in Kaski resulted the significant association between counselling sessions on family planning and the use of them (5). However according to the studies done in Ghana and Uganda misinformation, fear of side effects, negative perceptions, health concerns, reduction in pleasure were identified as the reason for non-utilization of the family planning (32,33).…”

“…Study on the heard of family planning has been done in Nepal (5). There is few research on the knowledge and use of family planning methods among the PLHIV (4).…”

Factors Associated with Knowledge of Transmission and Prevention of HIV/ AIDS among Men and Women in Uganda: Evidence from Demographic Health Survey of Uganda 2016

“…Many studies has shown that sexuality education is key in prevention of HIV and related sexually transmitted diseases especially if given to adolescents, schools and many people those that receive sex education are likely not to indulge in risky sexual behaviours [8,9]. HIV testing and counselling is so important because it helps to identify those having HIV making it easier for treatment especially home based HIV counselling and testing and also prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) this should also be coupled with counselling about family planning methods other than condom use alone [10][11][12][13] and which lowers transmission to others however some studies found that people are scared to find out their status, shy, fear what people might say about them in case they are positive and above all fear of death [14]. There is much evidence that a higher level of education is correlated with having more knowledge about HIV risk when compared with populations of lower education and in such categories transmission of HIV is lower in highly educated as compared to the counterparts [15].…”