Fertility intentions of people living with HIV/AIDS at Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the fertility intentions of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) attending a secondary care facility at Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria.

Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. Information on fertility intentions of PLWHA was gathered by means of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics

Results A total of 366 PLWHA with a mean age of 37.4 ± 9.5 years were interviewed: 286 (78%) women and 80 (22%) men. A majority of respondents had secondary (38%) or higher (29%) education. Most respondents were married (65%), artisans (78%), and of Yoruba descent (89%). Twenty-seven percent of women and 17% of men intended to have more than two children in the nearest future; 28% of women and 15% of men reported that their partners had similar future fertility intention. Most (73%) respondents intending to have children desired male children. In the logistic regression model, the significant predictors of fertility intention were a younger age, being married, having no child presently, and having higher education (p < 0.05).

Conclusion Most PLWHA and their spouses intended to have more children. It is necessary to put in place strategies to provide reproductive and family planning services to PLWHA.

Keywords:

• Fertility intention
• PLWHA
• Antiretroviral therapy
• Nigeria

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the entire staff – especially the doctors, nurses, and counsellors – and the clients of the Antiretroviral Clinic for their cooperation and support.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and the writing of the paper.