Family planning and safer sex practices among HIV infected women receiving prevention of mother-to-child transmission services at Kitale District Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the usage of family planning services and safer sex practices among HIV infected mothers who had gone through the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) process.


METHODS
Descriptive cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The maternal and child health and family planning (MCH-FP) clinics in Kitale District Hospital, Western Kenya.


RESULTS
A total of 146 respondents were recruited for this study. Only 44% of the respondents were using some form of family planning. The most popular method of contraception was the hormonal injectable contraceptives. Although 73% of respondents were no longer planning to have more babies, only 45% of them were using a family planning method. Only 38% of respondents reported condom use with their partners for safe sex. Married women and those who had revealed their HIV status to their partners were more likely to use condoms (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Usage of family planning services in this studywas low. A large percentage of the women were still planning to have more babies and very few women were using condoms for safe sex. Women who had informed their partners about their HIV status were more likely to use condoms than those who had not. Male partner involvement is crucial in decisions-pertaining to family planning use and safe sex practices.
Minisry of Health, NASCOP, Provincial AIDS/STI Co-ordinator, North Rift Province, Eldoret, Kenya.
S C
SC
Bii
B
B
Otieno-Nyunya
A
A
Siika
J K
JK
Rotich
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007630:Kenya; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires