OBJECTIVE: The unique needs of sero-discordant couples are largely missing from many current family planning efforts, which focus on the prevention of pregnancies in absence of the reduction of the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Conversely, HIV testing and programs focus exclusively on condom use without discussion of more effective contraceptive methods. In order to provide information to inform the development of family planning services tailored to the unique needs of sero-discordant couples, this study examined the contraceptive knowledge, use, and concerns among sero-discordant couples in urban Rwanda and Zambia. METHODS: This article presents a comparison of family planning knowledge, use, and concerns about contraception among two cohorts of HIV sero-discordant study participants in Rwanda and Zambia. RESULTS: The results reveal an interesting profile of contraceptive knowledge and use among sero-discordant couples; in both settings, despite high levels of knowledge of contraception, use of contraceptive methods remains relatively low. There is a clear gender difference in both the reporting of knowledge and use of contraceptive methods, and there is evidence of clandestine contraceptive use by women. CONCLUSIONS: Including information on family planning in voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services in addition to tailoring the delivery of family planning information to meet to needs and concerns of HIV-positive women or those with HIV positive partners is an essential step in the delivery of services and prevention efforts to reduce the transmission of HIV. Family planning and HIV prevention programs should integrate counseling on "dual method use," combining condoms for HIV/STI prevention with a long-acting contraceptive for added protection against unplanned pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: The unique needs of sero-discordant couples are largely missing from many current family planning efforts, which focus on the prevention of pregnancies in absence of the reduction of the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Conversely, HIV testing and programs focus exclusively on condom use without discussion of more effective contraceptive methods. In order to provide information to inform the development of family planning services tailored to the unique needs of sero-discordant couples, this study examined the contraceptive knowledge, use, and concerns among sero-discordant couples in urban Rwanda and Zambia. METHODS: This article presents a comparison of family planning knowledge, use, and concerns about contraception among two cohorts of HIVsero-discordant study participants in Rwanda and Zambia. RESULTS: The results reveal an interesting profile of contraceptive knowledge and use among sero-discordant couples; in both settings, despite high levels of knowledge of contraception, use of contraceptive methods remains relatively low. There is a clear gender difference in both the reporting of knowledge and use of contraceptive methods, and there is evidence of clandestine contraceptive use by women. CONCLUSIONS: Including information on family planning in voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services in addition to tailoring the delivery of family planning information to meet to needs and concerns of HIV-positive women or those with HIV positive partners is an essential step in the delivery of services and prevention efforts to reduce the transmission of HIV. Family planning and HIV prevention programs should integrate counseling on "dual method use," combining condoms for HIV/STI prevention with a long-acting contraceptive for added protection against unplanned pregnancy.
Authors: H Y Chu; J A Crump; J Ostermann; R B Oenga; D K Itemba; A Mgonja; S Mtweve; J A Bartlett; J F Shao; N M Thielman Journal: Int J STD AIDS Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 1.359
Authors: S L McKenna; G K Muyinda; D Roth; M Mwali; N Ng'andu; A Myrick; C Luo; F H Priddy; V M Hall; A A von Lieven; J R Sabatino; K Mark; S A Allen Journal: AIDS Date: 1997-09 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Kayvon Modjarrad; Isaac Zulu; Etienne Karita; Nzali Kancheya; Ellen Funkhouser; Susan Allen Journal: AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses Date: 2005-01 Impact factor: 2.205
Authors: S Allen; C Lindan; A Serufilira; P Van de Perre; A C Rundle; F Nsengumuremyi; M Carael; J Schwalbe; S Hulley Journal: JAMA Date: 1991-09-25 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Maricianah Onono; Mary A Guzé; Daniel Grossman; Rachel Steinfeld; Elizabeth A Bukusi; Starley Shade; Craig R Cohen; Sara J Newmann Journal: AIDS Care Date: 2015-01-29
Authors: Kristin M Wall; William Kilembe; Bellington Vwalika; Lisa B Haddad; Naw Htee Khu; Ilene Brill; Udodirim Onwubiko; Elwyn Chomba; Amanda Tichacek; Susan Allen Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2017-08 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Sara J Newmann; Daniel Grossman; Cinthia Blat; Maricianah Onono; Rachel Steinfeld; Elizabeth A Bukusi; Starley Shade; Craig R Cohen Journal: Int J Gynaecol Obstet Date: 2013-08-06 Impact factor: 3.561
Authors: Rob Stephenson; Bellington Vwalika; Lauren Greenberg; Yusuf Ahmed; Cheswa Vwalika; Elwyn Chomba; William Kilembe; Amanda Tichacek; Susan Allen Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2011-03-16 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Adebola A Adedimeji; Donald R Hoover; Qiuhu Shi; Tracy Gard; Eugene Mutimura; Jean d'Amour Sinayobye; Mardge H Cohen; Kathryn Anastos Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2015-07
Authors: Akwi W Asombang; Violet Kayamba; Mpala Mwanza-Lisulo; Graham Colditz; Victor Mudenda; Kevin Yarasheski; Robert Chott; Deborah C Rubin; C Prakash Gyawali; Edford Sinkala; Stayner Mwanamakondo; Catherine Anderson-Spearie; Paul Kelly Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2013-03-27 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Kristin M Wall; Bellington Vwalika; Lisa Haddad; Naw H Khu; Cheswa Vwalika; William Kilembe; Elwyn Chomba; Rob Stephenson; David Kleinbaum; Azhar Nizam; Ilene Brill; Amanda Tichacek; Susan Allen Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2013-05-01 Impact factor: 3.731