title: Discussing childbearing with HIV-infected women of reproductive age in clinical care: a comparison of Brazil and the US.
abstract: Despite long term access to highly active antiretroviral therapy in Brazil and the US, little is known about women's communication with their HIV provider regarding childbearing or the unmet need for reproductive counseling. We utilized identical survey questions to collect data from HIV-infected women of reproductive age in Rio de Janeiro (n = 180) and Baltimore (n = 181). We conducted univariate analyses to compare findings between samples of women and multivariate logistic regression to determine factors associated with childbearing desires, childbearing intentions, and provider communication among the combined sample of women (n = 361). Over one-third of women in Rio de Janeiro and nearly one-half of women in Baltimore reported the desire for future childbearing. Nevertheless, the majority of women in clinical care had not discussed future childbearing with their HIV provider. Even in countries with an advanced approach to HIV care, we found low and inadequate communication between providers and female patients about childbearing.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. kesslersa@umkc.edu
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Finocchario-Kessler
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goggin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sweat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dariotis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bertoni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore; D001938:Brazil; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D043762:Reproductive Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult