Contraception
Volume 80, Issue 5 , Pages 412-416, November 2009

Fourteen million women with limited options: HIV/AIDS and highly effective reversible contraception in sub-Saharan Africa☆

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA

Received 7 October 2008; received in revised form 11 February 2009; accepted 23 March 2009. published online 12 May 2009.

Abstract 

An estimated 14 million women in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV infected and these women deserve access to evidence-based family planning services. Increasing contraceptive use in HIV-infected women can reduce the numbers of unintended pregnancies and thus reduce maternal death and vertical transmission of HIV. A delicate balance exists between risks associated with pregnancy and any theoretical risks of acquiring, transmitting or worsening HIV attributable to using a contraceptive. This commentary reviews interactions between hormonal, intrauterine and barrier contraception in HIV-infected women, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, the evidence on these interactions to guide family planning providers is limited and more research in this area is urgently needed.

Keywords: HIV, Contraception, Sub-Saharan Africa, Method mix

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☆ Dr. Stuart is supported by NIH 5K12 HD050113 (Women's Reproductive Health Research Faculty Scholar Award).

PII: S0010-7824(09)00110-3

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2009.03.014

Contraception
Volume 80, Issue 5 , Pages 412-416, November 2009

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