HIV and conception : Factors affecting procreation choices among HIV infectected women at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).
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Date
2009-12-08
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Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
This qualitative study was conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital ART clinic with an aim of exploring the factors affecting procreation choices among HIV infected women on ART. Ten women who were seeking ART services were recruited through convenient sampling and in-depth interviews were conducted with the respondents on one to one basis. The interviews were captured using a tape recorder and the data collected was analysed using discourse analysis and regression analysis. The findings revealed that most of the HIV infected women had gaps in the knowledge regarding HIV and reproduction. There was no partner involvement in the care of the HIV infected women making compliance on prevention measures a problem. It was established that most of the HIV infected women did not disclose their HIV status to their partners and this had a major influence on their contraceptive choices and childbearing decisions. The study also revealed several factors that pose a challenge for women to access preventive measures and these included, fear of serostatus disclosure, economic dependence on the husband and communities expectations on them toward reproduction.