A Survey On Knowledge, Attitudesand Practicesof Hiv-Positive Women Of Reproductive Age (15 –49 Yrs) At Katutura Health Centre Towards Different Family Planning Methods

ABSTRACT

In recent years there has been an increase in the incidence of pregnancies in HIV

positive

women, which increases the risk of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However,

once HIV positive women become aware of their s ero status, many demonstrate a reduced

desire for pregnancy, particularly because most of them know that there are risks involved in

delivering an HIV positive child. Others, on the other hand, want to have children despite

their HIV positive status. Accor dingly, HIV positive women have reproductive needs that

have to be respected and attended to.

Family planning services are the cornerstone of the prevention of MTCT of HIV.

Nevertheless, family planning services are not integrated into HIV care and treatm ent,

making it difficult for both HIV positive women to access such services and for the health

care providers to know whether their clients have received these services or not. As a result,

many women fall pregnant unintentionally, with some of them accep ting the situation, while

others opt for back door abortion services or, if they do not get them, baby dumping becomes

an option.

The type of the family planning method used by HIV

positive women is influenced on the

one hand by the availability and acces sibility of different family planning methods and, on

the other, by the attitudes of these women and their knowledge of the importance of family

planning in HIV positive women. It is against this background that the researcher carried out

a research study that assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of HIV positive

women of reproductive age (15 49 yrs.), relating to different family planning methods at the

Katutura Health Centre.

During this KAP study, the researcher used a quantitative, desc

riptive cross sectional research method. A standard questionnaire with closed and open

method. A standard questionnaire with closed and open--ended questions was employed. The ended questions was employed. The questionnaire comprised four sections, containing demographic, attitude, and knowledge and questionnaire comprised four sections, containing demographic, attitude, and knowledge and practice questions respectively. The questiopractice questions respectively. The questionnaire was piloted before data collection to ensure nnaire was piloted before data collection to ensure its validity and appropriate changes were made before data collection started.its validity and appropriate changes were made before data collection started.

A random sampling method was used to select 347 women of reproductive age, that is,

A random sampling method was used to select 347 women of reproductive age, that is, between 15 to 49 years, out of a study pbetween 15 to 49 years, out of a study population. After data collection, all the responses opulation. After data collection, all the responses were filled in questionnaires that were identified by number and not by name, hence ensuring were filled in questionnaires that were identified by number and not by name, hence ensuring anonymity and confidentiality. Verbal consent was sought from those respondents who could anonymity and confidentiality. Verbal consent was sought from those respondents who could not read while writtenot read while written consent note was obtained from literate respondents. Those n consent note was obtained from literate respondents. Those respondents who started the study but fell out later were allowed to do so with no adverse respondents who started the study but fell out later were allowed to do so with no adverse consequences, and privacy was taken into consideration during the research process.consequences, and privacy was taken into consideration during the research process.

Data analysis was d

Data analysis was done using a computer program called Epi Info, and appropriate statistics, one using a computer program called Epi Info, and appropriate statistics, namely, pnamely, p--values and chivalues and chi--squares, were calculated. Throughout the data coding and analysis, squares, were calculated. Throughout the data coding and analysis, the researcher was guided by supervisors who are experienced in the field of research. Thethe researcher was guided by supervisors who are experienced in the field of research. The study revealed that HIVstudy revealed that HIV--positive women of reproductive age (15positive women of reproductive age (15––49 yrs) attending the 49 yrs) attending the Katutura Health Centre have good knowledge (95.7%) of the importance of family planning Katutura Health Centre have good knowledge (95.7%) of the importance of family planning in the prevention of MTCT of HIV and a positive attitude (80.1%) towards family plin the prevention of MTCT of HIV and a positive attitude (80.1%) towards family planning anning methods and issues generally. Regarding the practices of HIVmethods and issues generally. Regarding the practices of HIV--positive women towards family positive women towards family planning, the study revealed that 73.7% of women use family planning methods, of whom planning, the study revealed that 73.7% of women use family planning methods, of whom 57.8% use condoms and only 14.6% use dual family planning methods (condo57.8% use condoms and only 14.6% use dual family planning methods (condoms and ms and hormonal methods).hormonal methods).

It is recommended that providers should initiate counselling and family planning services

It is recommended that providers should initiate counselling and family planning services should be provided every time an HIVshould be provided every time an HIV--positive woman visits care and treatment centres for positive woman visits care and treatment centres for regular monitoring or checkregular monitoring or check--ups. Health providups. Health providers responsible for the treatment and care of ers responsible for the treatment and care of HIVHIV--positive women should be trained on the importance of family planning and on the positive women should be trained on the importance of family planning and on the appropriate counselling of these women in order to empower them to make informed choices. appropriate counselling of these women in order to empower them to make informed choices. In order to increase the availabiliIn order to increase the availability and accessibility of family planning services for HIVty and accessibility of family planning services for HIV--positive women, the responsible authorities should integrate family planning services into the positive women, the responsible authorities should integrate family planning services into the already existing HIV care and treatment services provided countrywide.already existing HIV care and treatment services provided countrywide.