%0 Journal Article
%T Reproductive Intentions of HIV-Positive Women on ARV Treatment in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria
%A Ijeoma Nduka
%A Ezinna Ezinne Enwereji
%A Enyinnaya C. Nduka
%A Reginald Ahuizi Eke
%J ISRN Public Health
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/593067
%X Introduction. In the African culture, the primary reason for marriage is procreation. Every female strives to perform this role irrespective of her health status so as to fulfill part of the conditions for maintaining the marriage. The question is, to what extent are HIV-positive women aware of the risks of fulfilling this role? The study aimed to determine the reproductive intentions of HIV-positive women in Abia State. Materials and Methods. This was a longitudinal cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among married HIV-positive women attending the Heart to Heart treatment centre in Abia State University Teaching Hospital from February to October 2013. Systematic sampling was used to select 250 married women between the ages of 15¨C49 years who are on antiretroviral therapy. Interviewer administered questionnaire and focus group discussion were used to obtain relevant information from the participants. Data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. SPSS version 17 software was also used in the analyses. Results. The mean number of living children of the respondents was 2.3£¿¡À£¿4.7. A good proportion of the respondents, 158 (63.7%) the desired to have more children. The younger the age group of the respondents (OR = 7.33), the lower their parity (OR = 3.69) and more regular they attended ARV clinic (OR = 47.76) the more they desired to have more children. The main reason for desiring more children was the quest to have male children. In the words of one respondent, ¡°without a male child, the marriage is not secure. The woman can be chased out at any time.¡± Conclusion. The fact that a large proportion of HIV-positive women, irrespective of the mean number of living children and their gender, still desired to have more children shows poor knowledge of the risk they are exposed to by having large number of children. Family counseling/education on the benefits of using family planning devices especially condom is necessary for HIV-positive women and their male partners. 1. Introduction The global HIV/AIDS pandemic has continued to constitute serious health and socioeconomic challenges in many countries especially the developing countries. Globally, 34.0 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2011; of these, 22.5 million (69%) live in sub-Saharan Africa [1]. In 2011, 1.7 million people died from several causes including pregnancy [1]. In Nigeria, since the first case of AIDS was reported in 1986 [2], the epidemic has continued to evolve. Nigeria like any other developing country has experienced a reversal in health and developmental
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.public.health/2014/593067/