II. Prevention of Unintended Pregnancies Among HIV-Infected Women

Unintended (unwanted) pregnancy is largely preventable using effective family planning methods, and counselling service. It can help HIV-infected women prevent unwanted pregnancies and space births. It can also help women who are HIV-infected protect their health, their babies and help them taking care of their families. About family planning, a client's rights include the right to decide whether to use family planning or not and which contraceptive method to use is always considered. Offering family planning (FP) counselling and services to HIV-infected women have the following additional benefits:

a) Reduction of the number of HIV-infected (and uninfected) infants born to them.
b) Reduction of the number of babies who will be orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
c) Ensuring that messages given in FP settings (about contraceptive choice, MTCT, infant feeding, etc.) are consistent with those given in MTCT settings.
d) Prevention of HIV transmission from HIV-infected women to their (uninfected) sexual partners.
e) The theoretical possibility of protection against re-infection with the HIV virus, or acquiring different strains of the HIV virus (super infection) or other STIs.

Family planning counselling is successful when the following things are met.

  • Clients feel they got the help they needed.
  • Clients know what to do and feel confident that they can do it.
  • Clients feel respected and appreciated.
  • Clients come back when they need to.
  • And most important, clients use their methods effectively and with satisfaction
Last modified: Tuesday, 21 February 2017, 4:22 PM