title: Contraceptive use and unmet need for family planning among HIV positive women on antiretroviral therapy in Kumasi, Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A key strategy for minimizing HIV infection rates especially via reduction of Mother- to-Child transmission is by reducing the unmet need for family planning. In Ghana, the integration of family planning services into Antiretroviral Therapy services for persons living with HIV/AIDS has largely been ignored. We set out to measure the prevalence of modern methods of contraception, the unmet need for family planning and to identify factors associated with the use of modern methods of contraception among HIV positive women on anti retroviral therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive cross sectional study of HIV positive women in their reproductive ages accessing care at an adult Antiretroviral Therapy Clinic in Kumasi, Ghana. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Epi Info version 7.1.2.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 230 women were included in the study. Fifty six percent were in the 30-39 year age group. The mean age (SD) was 36.3 (5.4) years. While 53.5% of respondents desired to have children, partner desire for children was reported by 54.6% of respondents with partners. About 74% had received information on contraception from their provider. 42.6% of participants and/or their partners were using a contraception method at the time of study; the male condom (79.6%) being the most commonly used method. The estimated unmet need for contraception was 27.8%. Contraceptive use was strongly associated with partner knowledge of HIV status (AOR = 3.64; 95% CI 1.36-9.72; p = 0.01) and use of a contraceptive method prior to diagnosis of HIV (AOR = 6.1; 2.65-14.23; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contraceptive Prevalence is high among HIV positive women in Kumasi compared with the general Ghanaian population. Despite this, there still is a high unmet need for family planning in this population. We recommend continuous education on contraceptives use to HIV patients accessing HAART services to further increase contraceptive uptake.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, PO Box 1934, Kumasi, Ghana. dlaryea@kathhsp.org.
authors.forename: Dennis Odai
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Laryea
authors.forename: Yaw Ampem
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Amoako
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spangenberg
authors.forename: Ebenezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frimpong
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kyei-Ansong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D043762:Reproductive Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral