Reproductive decisionmaking in the context of HIV/AIDS in Ndola, Zambia

Family planning (FP) programs are increasingly being considered as a logical focal point for STD and HIV/AIDS prevention services because they serve large numbers of women at risk, address the sensitive issue of sexual behavior and fertility control, and the methods for preventing unwanted pregnancy and disease can be the same. FP programs, by providing contraceptive methods, are currently one of the few sources of assistance in the sub-Saharan African region for preventing perinatal transmission of HIV, while the promotion of barrier methods contributes to the prevention of heterosexual transmission. Given this potential, research is needed to understand how the HIV epidemic influences reproductive decision-making. The Africa OR/TA II Project undertook an exploratory study of women and men’s attitudes and experiences regarding reproductive decision-making in a setting of high HIV prevalence in Ndola, Zambia. The objectives, as described in this report, were to examine perceptions of risk by men and women living in a high HIV prevalence setting, how these perceptions are related to decisions about childbearing and contraceptive use, and to identify opportunities for FP programs to expand services to address HIV prevention