Factors influencing fertility desire, intentions and contraceptive use among HIV sero discordant couples in Dar es Salaam Region

Abstract

HIV sero discordant couples have fertility desires and intentions to have children in future. There is little information on factors that influence desires and intentions to have children and use of contraceptives among HIV sero discordant couples. An analytical cross sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salaam with the aim of assessing factors that are associated with fertility desires, intentions and contraceptive use among HIV sero discordant couples. A total of 267 men and women participated in this study of which 65.2% were females. Data were analyzed using SPSS computer software. Frequencies cross tabulations and multiple logistic regression were used to assess desires, intentions and the associated factors. One hundred and twenty six participants (47.2%) desired to have children. Majority of HI V positive women and men who are living in HIV sero discordance and desire to have children are young, have a partner who desire to have a child, have fewer children and have CD4 more than 200 /mm". Majority of participants who had children of their own and with their current partner intended to have only one child compared to those who had no children of their own or had no children with their current partner. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that participants in the older age group are less likely to desire for children as compared to the younger age groups, while participants who already have children, are significantly less likely than others, to want to have children in future. Almost 90% of participants were usmg contraceptives where condoms were the most commonly used method. The use of contraceptives was significantly associated with whether or not the participant has children with the current partner. Findings of the study show that men and women living in HIV sero discordance desire to have children, these calls for the need to have reproductive health counseling for this group for them to make informed choices to have children at the time when probability of HIV transmission is lowest.