Strategies to Integrate Family Planning with Antiretroviral Therapy Services for Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Oromia, Ethiopia

Dereje Bayissa Demissie1,2* and Rose Mmusi-Phetoe3

1Department of Health Studies, College of Human Science, University of South Africa, South Africa
2St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3Department of Public Health, College of Human Science, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

^*Correspondance to: Dereje Bayissa Demissie 

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Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to develop strategies for the integration of family planning services with HIV treatment for women of reproductive age for better health outcomes and facilitate clinical practice through the implementation of feasible strategies. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used to collect data from focal persons, health managers, and healthcare providers working in the ART/Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) clinics in the Oromia Region. Simple random sampling computergenerated sample was used to select 670 respondents. The study findings were provided and the research findings were interpreted in the outcome summary. The integration of family planning with HIV services is key to this study, as it includes counseling and provision on available family planning methods in the ART room, as well as providing referrals for long-acting and permanent methods such as condoms and implants [1]. HIV-positive women of reproductive age need better access to family planning and HIV treatment based on identified factors. The study found significant gaps between the availability of family planning/HIV services and the actual delivery of fully integrated sexual reproductive health services [1]. This study revealed that HIV-infected reproductive age women have a significant need for family planning services with identified factor-like attending ART/PMTC and discussions with healthcare practitioners are two factors that enhance demand. It should be a priority in high HIV seroprevalence nations to ensure that family planning service providers are aware of the special family planning requirements of HIV-positive women [2]. Existing family planning use was greater than the national contraceptive prevalence rate among women of reproductive age. This number is similar to the proportion of service providers that report providing both HIV- and family planning-related services that are heavily reliant on training in integrated family planning and HIV services [1,2]. The study found strong favor for women of reproductive age living with HIV-centered integrated Family Planning services. The strategies were developed based on the findings of the study. The Ministry of Health and the health bureaus should incorporate the strategic plan into its policy and establish documents to further ensure the provision of quality services.

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Cite the Article:

Demissie DB, Mmusi-Phetoe R. Strategies to Integrate Family Planning with Antiretroviral Therapy Services for Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Oromia, Ethiopia. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2022; 7: 2245..