Fourteen million women with limited options: HIV/AIDS and highly effective reversible contraception in sub-Saharan Africa.
An estimated 14 million women in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV infected and these women deserve access to evidence-based family planning services. Increasing contraceptive use in HIV-infected women can reduce the numbers of unintended pregnancies and thus reduce maternal death and vertical transmission of HIV. A delicate balance exists between risks associated with pregnancy and any theoretical risks of acquiring, transmitting or worsening HIV attributable to using a contraceptive. This commentary reviews interactions between hormonal, intrauterine and barrier contraception in HIV-infected women, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, the evidence on these interactions to guide family planning providers is limited and more research in this area is urgently needed.
Stuart
Gretchen S
GS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA. gstuart@med.unc.edu
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D018450:Disease Progression; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned