title: Linking HIV & family planning services to improve dual methods of contraception among women infected with HIV in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preventing unintended pregnancies among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is one of the strategies of WHO for preventing parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT). Given the limitation of only condom use, the objective of this study was to improve use of dual contraceptive methods among HIV infected women.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental study among HIV positive women was conducted at two tertiary care level hospitals in Mumbai. Linking HIV with family planning services was the focus of intervention at one site and standard level of care was maintained at the control site. At each site, 150 HIV+ve women attending counselling and testing centres, who did not intend to get pregnant in the next one year and were eligible to use dual methods, were enrolled and followed up to one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of one year, 60 per cent women in the intervention group reached Family Planning centres compared to eight per cent in the control group. There was three times more acceptance and continuation of use of dual methods along with increase in consistent use of condoms and less number of unplanned pregnancies in the intervention group than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings demonstrate that linking HIV and family planning services may facilitate the uptake of dual methods of contraception without reducing consistent condom use among HIV infected women. The PPTCT programmes need to focus on the component of Prong 2 of PPTCT which aims to prevent unintended pregnancies among HIV positive women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operational Research, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, (ICMR), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Beena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, T.N. Medical College & BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Gajanan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Velhal
authors.affiliation: Department of Operational Research, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, (ICMR), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Operational Research, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, (ICMR), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Ragini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.affiliation: Department of Operational Research, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, (ICMR), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Shahina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult