Publication Spotlight: Meeting the Family Planning and Contraception Needs of Women in Zimbabwe

“Unmet Need for Family Planning, Contraceptive Failure, and Unintended Pregnancy among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Women in Zimbabwe,” recently published in PLOS ONE*, assessed pregnancy intentions and contraceptive use among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women with a recent pregnancy in Zimbabwe. Preventing unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV is a World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended strategy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

Both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women reported unintended pregnancies despite intending to avoid or delay pregnancy. These findings show a need a clear need for safe, effective contraceptive methods that align with pregnancy intentions. This prong of PMTCT service delivery needs further attention and scale up in Zimbabwe.

Download and read the full article.
 

The study was led by Sarah McCoy (University of California Berkley) in collaboration with EGPAF Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and others.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is building scientific evidence to prevent, treat, and cure HIV in children and families across the globe. Because of our work in thousands of healthcare sites, we are able to evaluate and offer research innovations to the families that need them by influencing local policy and practices.  

*PLOS ONE is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication.