Fertility desire and associated factors among people living with HIV attending antiretroviral therapy clinic in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND The reproductive decisions made by PLHIV and their partners have a long-term consequences for the survival and wellbeing of their families and a society at large. Evidence relating to fertility and reproductive intentions among PLHIV is rare, despite the fact that more than 80% of PLHIV are of reproductive age. The aim of the study was to determine fertility desire and associated factors among PLHIV attending ART clinic in Fitche Hospital. METHODS A facility based cross-sectional study design with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was employed from February21-April 20th, 2013. The study participants were selected by using simple random sampling technique. A pre- tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors. RESULT The prevalence of fertility desire of PLHIV in Fitche Hospital was 133(39.1%) with 95% CI of (34.3% -44.3%). This study identified that factors found to be associated with fertility desire were: - Age from 18-29y [AOR = 3.95, 95% CI: 1.69 - 9.22) and 30-39y (AOR = 3.91, 95% CI: 1.90 -8.19)], marital length ≤4y [AOR = 5.49, 95% CI: 2.08-14.51), within 5-9y (AOR = 4.80, 95% CI: 2.14-10.78) and 10-14y (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.19 -6.63], had not biological living children [AOR = 11.42, 95% CI: 3.27-39.90) and had more than one child (AOR = 3.67, 95% CI: 1.27-10.62)], community pressure [AOR = 3.67, 95% CI: 1.54-8.70], partner fertility [AOR = 7.18, 95% CI: 3.39-15.22)], duration HIV diagnosis≤1y[AOR = 4.99, 95% CI: 1.91-13.09], disclosed HIV serostatus [AOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.37-11.10] and partner sero-difference [AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.01- 4.15] were some of the factors significantly associated with fertility desire. CONCLUSION The prevalence of fertility desire of PLHIV in the study area was 39.1%. In this study:- age, marital length, biological child, partner, community pressure, duration of HIV-diagnosis, discordant HIV-test and disclosure of HIV-serostatus to partner were demonstrated to have more associations with fertility desire among PLHIV, therefore, these factors should be emphatically considered during PLHIV's reproductive health program development.