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10th Anniversary Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]15 – 17 April 2004, City Hall, Cardiff, UK |
[AUTHOR(S):] S Cliffe
For the UK Collaborative Study of the Effect of HIV on Pregnancy Decisions, Institute of Child Health, and Health Protection Agency, London, UK
BHIVA Conf 2004 Apr 15-17;10:O23
BACKGROUND: The impact of HIV on women's reproductive decisions is unclear. Improvements in treatments that delay HIV disease progression and interventions that reduce perinatal transmission of HIV may have altered women's fertility desires.
METHODS: Self-completion questionnaires were collected from 410 women attending seven HIV-treatment centres in the UK between July 2003 and January 2004.
RESULTS: The median age was 35 years. 72% of women were African, 8% had a history of drug use and 29% were diagnosed during pregnancy. 18% of women had had a pregnancy after HIV diagnosis. In univariate analyses, the number of previous children, partnership status, having had an HIV-positive child, young age, years since diagnosis and having a diagnosis during pregnancy were associated with a subsequent pregnancy. 41% of the women (168/410) desired future children, which was associated with having only one or fewer children, partnership status and younger age at diagnosis. Fertility desire was not related to ethnicity nor to disease progression. Although 33% (136/410) indicated that they no longer desired children after their HIV diagnosis, 29% (40/136) and 33% (45/136), respectively, changed their mind in the light of improvements in treatments and interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy decision-making among HIV-positive women is complex. Many women have had children and many desire to do so in the future. This will have important implications for ongoing HIV education and care provision.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: S Cliffe
040415
O23
Copyright © 2004 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD