HIV-positive women in northeast Brazil: tubal sterilization, medical recommendation and reproductive rights.
Tubal sterilization is the most common contraceptive method used by Brazilian HIV-positive women. This cross sectional study describes the main reasons why HIV-positive women decide to be sterilized and identifies factors associated with choosing sterilization in HIV-positive women in Ceará, northeast Brazil. Data from 229 non-sterilized women, 80 women sterilized before HIV diagnosis and 48 women sterilized after diagnosis were analysed. Of the women sterilized after HIV diagnosis, 96% had the procedure done in the postpartum, during a caesarean section. No desire for more children was the most common appointed reason to be sterilized (39.6%), followed by medical recommendation because of HIV (31.3%). Seventy-nine women (28.5%) had a child after HIV diagnosis. Of those, 46 (58.2%) were sterilized in the postpartum. Factors associated with sterilization for HIV-positive women were: having a child after diagnosis (AOR: 120.9; 95%CI: 27.8-525.4) and having at least three children (AOR: 2.8; 95%CI: 1.1-7.1). It is recommended that non-coercive counselling should be provided so that HIV-positive women can make informed decisions on their reproductive options.
Oliveira
F
F
Department of Community Health, Federal University of Ceará School of Medicine, Fortaleza, Brazil. foliveira@web.de
Kerr
L
L
Frota
A
A
Nóbrega
A
A
Bruno
Z
Z
Leitão
T
T
Kendall
C
C
Galvão
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D046269:Reproductive Rights; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal / Q000523:psychology*