Awareness and Interest in Intrauterine Contraceptive Device Use among HIV-Positive Women in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract EN

Objective.

To assess awareness of and interest in intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) use among HIV-positive women in Cape Town, South Africa.

Design.

Cross-sectional survey.

Methods.

HIV-positive women aged 18 through 45 years presenting for care at a primary health care clinic in Cape Town, South Africa participated in this study.

Consented participants completed a staff-administered questionnaire in a private setting.

Descriptive statistics were generated.

Comparisons between demographic and reproductive health-related variables and IUCD awareness and interest were performed with multiple logistic regression.

Analyses for IUCD interest excluded women with prior surgical sterilization.

Results.

Of 277 HIV-positive women, 37% were aware of the IUCD; awareness was independently associated with greater age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.15, 95%; confidence interval (CI): 1.10–1.20) and not switching contraceptive methods in the last year (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.03–5.83).

Following an IUCD information session, 86% of women (n=206/240) were interested in IUCD use.

IUCD interest was inversely associated with age (AOR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86–0.97) and marginally positively associated with current menstrual bleeding pattern complaints (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 0.98–4.68).

Conclusions.

Despite low levels of method awareness, HIV-positive women in this setting are frequently interested in IUCD use, indicating need for programming to expand method access.