Provider attitudes toward IUD provision in Zimbabwe: perception of HIV risk and training implications

This study was conducted to assess providers' attitudes toward the provision of long-term methods of contraception, in particular the IUD, and provider concerns about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the context of family planning (FP) services. The data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaires. Between 65% and 80% of the public and private providers thought that the IUD is a good contraceptive method for Zimbabwean women. In addition, the majority of these two provider groups felt that neither the IUD nor tubal sterilization (TL) posed much risk of HIV infection to the client. A significant number of providers (especially the public nurses), however, thought that the provision of TL put the provider at high risk of HIV infection and a significant proportion of public nurses were also concerned about provider risk associated with providing IUD and injectables. To address such concerns, future training interventions should emphasize appropriate infection prevention practices associated with surgical FP method provision. Nurses, in particular, should be informed about the magnitude of risk associated with FP service provision and ways to protect themselves. Logistic activities also need to be strengthened so that legitimate concerns among providers regarding lack of adequate infection prevention supplies (e.g. gloves) in the field can be addressed.