Access of people living with HIV to infertility services: perspective of Brazilian healthcare professionals

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the perspective of professionals in university and public assisted reproductive technology (ART) and HIV/AIDS services in Brazil, on the demand of people living with HIV wishing to conceive.

Design. Mixed qualitative and quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional and case study.

Methods. The quantitative component was based on telephone interviews to women's health and HIV/AIDS program managers at state and municipal level. For the qualitative case study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with health professionals of ART and HIV/AIDS services.

Results. Only one university ART service provided care for seropositive couples, but 64% of the HIV/AIDS services at state level and 73% of municipal HIV/AIDS services offered reproductive counseling focused on preventing pregnancy. Difficulty in discussing desire to conceive, lack of political decision and of human and financial resources were the main reasons given by service managers for not offering the opportunity for HIV couples. Lack of appropriate referrals and of updated knowledge on reproductive options were constrains according to the interviews.

Conclusion. Desire to reproduce among people living with HIV is poorly addressed in public services in Brazil.

Keywords:

• HIV
• AIDS
• human reproduction
• reproductive rights
• reproductive techniques
• health policy

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Fundação de Amparo e Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Grant # 2007/59956-5 and the Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino, à Pesquisa e à Extensão (FAEPEX) of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Grant # 519.294.