Sexual Practices, Fertility Intentions, and Awareness to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Among Infected Pregnant Women at the Yaounde Central Hospital

Martin Kuete; Hongfang Yuan; Qian He; Aude Laure Tchoua Kemayou; Tita Pale Ndognjem; Fan Yang; ZhiZong Hu; BoZhen Tian; Kai Zhao; HuiPing Zhang; ChengLiang Xiong

doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2016.01.004

Sexual Practices, Fertility Intentions, and Awareness to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Among Infected Pregnant Women at the Yaounde Central Hospital

Sex Med. 2016 Jun;4(2):e95-e103. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2016.01.004. Epub 2016 Mar 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Yaounde Central Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde, Yaounde, Messa, Cameroon.
² Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
⁴ Yaounde Central Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde, Yaounde, Messa, Cameroon.
⁵ Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. Electronic address: clxiong951@sina.com.

Abstract

Introduction: The sexual and reproductive health of people living with HIV is fundamental for their well-being. Antiretroviral therapy and reproductive technologies have significantly improved quality of life of people living with HIV in developed countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of HIV, the sexual practices and fertility of women infected with HIV have been understudied.

Aim: To assess the sexual behavior, fertility intentions, and awareness of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in pregnant women with HIV-negative partners in Yaounde Central Hospital (Yaounde, Cameroon).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted at the antenatal unit and HIV clinic in 2014.

Main outcome measures: Ninety-four pregnant women infected with HIV provided consistent information on (i) sociodemographic characteristics, (ii) sexual and fertility patterns, (iii) awareness of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and (iv) their unmet needs.

Results: Although sexual desire had significantly changed since their HIV diagnosis, the women were highly sexually active. Approximately 19% of women had more than one sexual partner and 40% had regular unprotected sex during the 12-month period before the interviews (P < .0001). Twenty-nine percent of women preferred intermittent sexual intercourse and inconsistent condom use to delay pregnancy, but the abortion rate remained high. Age, marital status, and education affected women's awareness of mother-to-child transmission (P < .05); and no association existed between the number of living children and future pregnancies (rs = -0.217; P = .036).

Conclusion: HIV-infected women living with HIV-negative partners in Cameroon expressed high sexual and fertility intentions with several unmet needs, including safer sexual practices and conception. Incorporating and supporting safe sexual educational practices and conception services in maternal care can decrease risky sexual behavior and vertical transmission.

Keywords: Awareness; Cameroon; Fertility Intentions; HIV; Pregnant Women; Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV; Sexual Practices; Yaounde Central Hospital.