Knowledge and Attitudes on Contraception and Reproductive Health in Women With HIV

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• HIV Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Contraception usage is notably low among women diagnosed with HIV.
• Reasons for low contraceptive uptake in this demographic are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate attitudes toward and lifetime use of contraception among women living with HIV.
• To identify factors influencing contraception choices and provider communication.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous, voluntary survey was administered to 114 cisgender, English-speaking women with HIV in a Southern urban clinic.
• The survey assessed contraception use, recall of provider discussions, and reproductive health knowledge and empowerment.
• Statistical analyses (chi-square, Fisher exact tests) compared attitudes and recall by age, race, and method use.

Main Results:

• Participants reported a median of 2 unique family planning methods, with oral contraceptive pills being most common (59%).
• Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) use was low (20%), and only 56% recalled discussing contraception with a provider.
• Women of non-Black race and LARC users were more likely to recall provider conversations (72% vs. 52% and 87% vs. 56%, respectively).
• A significant majority of women under 45 (82%) preferred non-daily methods, and 60% expressed discomfort with device insertion.

Conclusions:

• Women with HIV reported diverse contraceptive use but limited recall of provider discussions.
• Understanding patient preferences, such as a desire for non-daily methods and aversion to insertion, is crucial for effective counseling.
• Tailored counseling strategies are needed to improve contraceptive uptake and adherence among women with HIV.