Barrier contraceptive method is a strategy that prevents both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Predictors for using barrier methods are not well studied in the area.
The aim of this study was to assess Barrier contraceptive method practice and its predictors among women living with human immune deficiency virus.
A facility based cross-sectional study was employed. Data were collected through interviewer interview using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Simple random sampling technique from patient registration book was used to select participants. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was used quantify degree of association.
39.16% of women living with human immune deficiency virus in Hadiya zone public Hospital practiced barrier contraceptive method and independent predictors are received information in the last 6 months on barrier method use (AOR: 4.05; 95% CI: 2.46, 14.83), Pre-ART (AOR: 0.11; CI: 0.07, 0.64), child desire (AOR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.57), supporting to use barrier contraceptive methods (AOR: 7.6; 95% CI: 2.49, 16.28).
In this study less than half participants practiced barrier contraceptive method. Child desire received information in the last 6 months on barrier method use, pre-ART drug initiation status and Supported to use barrier contraceptive methods were found to be independent predictors of Barrier contraceptive method utilization.
Barrier contraceptive method, Sexually transmitted infections, Public hospitals
ART: Anti Retroviral Therapy; ARV: Anti Retroviral Treatment; CD4: Cluster of differentiation/Cell differentiation; CSA: Central Statistical Agency; EDHS: Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey; HAART: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy; HAPCO: HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office; HIV: Human Immune Deficiency Virus; MOH: Ministry of Health; PMTCT: Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission; SPSS: Statistical Package for Social Science; STI: Sexually Transmitted Infection; UNAID: United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS; WHO: World Health Organization; PCA: Principal Component Analysis
The co-occurrence of HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy has prompted in aiming simultaneous protection against STIs and unintended pregnancy [1,2]. Some studies that have even considered the benefits of use of condom even with other contraception for people living with HIV [3,4].
Increased use of contraceptive acceptance rate in Sub-Saharan Africa with corresponding reduction in primary HIV infections and unintended pregnancies in HIV infected women has potential to decrease the proportion of infants infected with HIV by 35-55% [5].
Ethiopia is one of the sub Saharan African country which is severely affected by the HIV epidemic. The dominant heterosexual transmission and the vertical virus transmission from mother to child accounts for more than 90% of HIV/AIDS infection [6].
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women living with HIV to use barrier contraceptive methods for dual proptection [7]. The burden of unintended pregnancy and STIs was greater among younger and economically disadvantaged men and women [8].
There are few studies done on why women living with HIV/AIDS don does not use barrier contraceptive method. Thus, this study highlighted barrier contraceptive method practice and its predictors [9].
The study was conducted in ART clinic in Hadiya Zone Public Hospitals, Southern Ethiopia. ART clinic provides free services for patients for routine testing and counseling services, comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care interventions.
Facility based cross-sectional study was employed.
HIV positive reproductive aged women attend chronic HIV/AIDS care clinic with at least one visit attended before this study were included in this study. Whereas unable to communicate due to illness and pregnant women at the time of data collection were excluded from this study. The study was conducted in April 2016.
The required sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula as follows
We use finite population proportion correction formula because source population was less than 10,000 (which is 692) and n/N > 5%
Therefore = N/1 + (n/N) = 246 plus 10%
Where: n = sample required;
Zα\2 = the critical values at 95% confidence level of certainty = 1.96;
P = 19.8% (Proportion of barrier contraceptive use from previous study;
d = margin of error = 4%.
After adjustment for non-response 10%; the total sample size required 271.
For the second objective the required sample size was calculated by using Epi-Info software version 7.0 stat calc program. The variables associated with barrier contraceptive utilization in previous study was taken and calculated [10]. The second objective calculated sample size was 252, 62 and 253 respectively, but 271 maximum sample size was taken.
First of all one public health hospital was selected randomly from the three public hospitals, which is Wachemo University Hospital. Computer generated simple random sampling technique using SPSS version 20.0 to select study respondents by using their ART & Pre-ART HMIS registration numbers. During the one-month study period; 263 HIV positive women were interviewed from sample frame. Respondents, who were not obtained at appointment date, were revisited the whole data collection period. The HIV positive women visit the Hospital at least once in a month. During one-month data collection period, there was possible condition to get the study participants.
Structured and semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data which were adapted from different relevant literatures. The questionnaire was prepared in English and translated to Amharic & local language (Hadiyigna) and back retranslated to English to check its consistency. Data were collected by seven diploma nurses and two supervisor degree holder nurse Data were collected by face to face interview using structured Amharic and local language (Hadiyigna) questionnaires. No compensation was given to participants. The data on barrier contraceptive practice was collected by oral report of females but some other independent variables like CD4 from oral report and registration book.
To ensure data quality, data collectors and supervisor were trained by the principal investigators for two days. Pre-test was done on 5% of the sample of HIV positive women in Homacho district Hospital before the actual data collection. Supervisor and principal investigators closely followed the data collection throughout the data collection period along with the principal investigator. After data collection, each questionnaire was checked for consistency and completeness and code was given before data entry. The data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 & exported to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis.
Descriptive statistics was done to describe the data by using frequency, tables, percentages etc. Bivariate and multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression on SPSS version 20.0 software in order to determine independent predictors with barrier contraceptive utilization with statistical significant level of p < 0.05 and AOR with 95% CI. Independent variables with p-value of less than 0.25 were candidate variables to multivariable logistic regression model for controlling the possible effect of confounders and finally the variables which have independent predictors with practice of barrier contraceptive. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR), with corresponding 95% CI were used to quantify the degrees of association between independent variables and practice of barrier contraceptive. Goodness of fit of the final model was checked using Hosmer and Lemeshow test.
Multicollinearity among independently associated variables was checked. The Bartlett test of sphericity is statistically significant at p < 0.05 conducted on analysis for wealth index. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy (MSA) greater than 0.5 for individual as well as the full set of items was used to check the appropriateness of the PCA [11]. Internal consistency of PCA were checked.
In this study it refers to the HIV positive women who used condom (male/female condom) in every sexual encounter in the last six months preceding the study.
refers to woman who reported she was pregnant or her husband who reported his wife pregnant
in this study refers HIV positive women whose age 18-49 years attend chronic HIV/AIDS care clinic.
Ethical clearance & official letter approved from College of Jimma University School of public health & Health Research Ethical Committee (REC). Written consent was obtained from Hospital adminstratives. Verbal informed consent for participation obtained from each study participant. The confidentiality of clients' information was ensured, as names or any identifiers of study participants were not be included in the data sheet. The discussions between the data collectors and the respondents were taken place privately and individually. All individuals and institutions mentioned in this study are asked and they were agreed.
This study tried to assess the magnitude of barrier contraceptive use among women living with HIV/AIDS in hadiya Zone public Hospitals.
From the total of 271 sample size, response rate of 263 (97%) were included in this study. Sociodemographic characteristics of study participants are described below (Table 1).
Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of participants in Hadiya Zone public Hospitals, Ethiopia, 2016 (n = 263). View Table 1
The use of barrier contraceptive method was 103 (39.16%). The reason reported by women to use barrier contraception is fear of other sexually transmitted infections (43%) and prevent pregnancy (20%). The reasons reported by mothers for not using were child bearing desire (11%) followed by uncomfortable to get sexual satisfaction (5%).
In this study predictors of barrier contraceptive method practice were child desire, received information in the last 6 months on barrier method use, pre-ART drug initiation status and supporting to use barrier contraceptive methods (Table 2).
Table 2: Independent predictors of barrier Contraceptive method practice in Hadiya zone public Hospitals, Ethiopia 2016 (n = 263). View Table 2
This study assessed practice and predictors of Barrier contraceptive practice among HIV positive reproductive age women. This study pointed out that the use of barrier contraceptive method among HIV-positive women in Hadiya zone public Hospital was 39.16%. From this figure we can understand that less than half of the participants practiced barrier method with in past six month, which is important in preventing pregnancy and STIs including viral load at the same time. This finding is high when compared to study conducted in Gebretsadik Shawo Hospital which is (19.8%) [10,12]. Reasons for this variation might be due to study setting, age group & time change. But, similar with study conducted in Fitch Hospital, Oromia region and western Ethiopia [13,14].
The most common reason identified by this study to use barrier contraceptive method was to prevent STIs and avoid unwanted pregnancy.
Whereas the main reasons not to use barrier contraceptive method were desire to bear child and poor sexual satisfaction in using barrier were identified.
Child desire received information in the last 6 months on barrier method use, ART drug initiation status, Supported to use barrier contraceptive methods were independent predictors.
This study found that women who were in Pre-ART were less likely to practice barrier contraceptive methods as compared to their counterpart (AOR: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.64). This is consistent with study done Gimbie town, western Ethiopia [14].
According this study HIV positive women who received information in the last 6 months on barrier method use four times more likely use barrier contraceptive method than their counterpart (AOR: 4.05; 95% CI: 2.46, 14.83). This finding was similar with finding from the cross sectional study done in Gebretsadik Shawo Hospital, Ethiopia [10].
Study participants who had been Supported to use barrier contraceptive methods were 7.6 times more likely to use barrier contraceptive method than those who were not supported to use (AOR: 7.6; 95% CI: 2.49, 16.28). This finding similar with study finding from Gebretsadik Shawo Hospital, Ethiopia and Uganda [10,15].
Even if study conducted on facility based primary data were used. A set of reliability and validation rules were applied. This study had a few limitations: Cause and effect relation not assured. Practicing Barrier contraceptive method may be subjected to socially desirability bias and recall bias.
In this study less than half participants use barrier contraceptive method in past six months.
Child desire, received information in the last 6 months on barrier method use, ART drug initiation status and Supported to use barrier contraceptive methods were found to be independent predictors of Barrier contraceptive method utilization.
It needs counseling and health education intervention by collaboration and integration of clinician and manager to increase the uptake of Barrier contraceptive methods.
We would like to thank study participants, data collectors, and supervisor for their commitment on data collection process.
All authors declared as there was no conflict of interest.