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British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research - Vol. 11, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/bjhmr.113.17099.
Ikenna, C., Baamlong, N., Blessing, A., Rebecca, R., Abubakar, H., Rukayat, A., Joel, A., & Godiya, B. (2024). Contraceptive Prevalence
and Pattern Amongst Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected (HIV) Women of Reproductive Age Attending the Special Treatment
Clinic (STC) of a Tertiary Health Facility in North Central Nigeria. British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, Vol - 11(3). 245-
254.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Contraceptive Prevalence and Pattern Amongst Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Infected (HIV) Women of Reproductive
Age Attending the Special Treatment Clinic (STC) of a Tertiary
Health Facility in North Central Nigeria
Chima Ikenna
Department of Family Medicine,
Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria
Nicholas Baamlong
Department of Family Medicine,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Akor Blessing
Department of Family Medicine,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Ripiye Rebecca
Department of Family Medicine,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Haruna Abubakar
Department of Family Medicine,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Abdulkareem Rukayat
Department of Family Medicine,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Abu Joel
Department of Family Medicine,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Bwala Godiya
Department of Family Medicine,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Background: Nigeria has the second largest burden of HIV in the world and Mother
to Child transmission of HIV is the predominant mode of transmission in children.
Family planning is the most cost-effective strategy to reduce mother to child
transmission of HIV. Aim/Objective: The study was to determine the prevalence and
pattern of contraceptive use amongst HIV infected women attending the special
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247
Ikenna, C., Baamlong, N., Blessing, A., Rebecca, R., Abubakar, H., Rukayat, A., Joel, A., & Godiya, B. (2024). Contraceptive Prevalence and Pattern
Amongst Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected (HIV) Women of Reproductive Age Attending the Special Treatment Clinic (STC) of a Tertiary
Health Facility in North Central Nigeria. British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, Vol - 11(3). 245-254.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/bjhmr.113.17099.
of children born to a woman, preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing unsafe abortion
thus contraception has a major impact on improving overall maternal and infant health [11]. In
any social context, effective contraception allows a couple to enjoy a physical relationship
without fear of an unwanted pregnancy and ensures enough freedom to have children when
desired [10].
In 2014, National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) reported a 5.8% prevalence of HIV among
pregnant women in the North Central part of Nigeria which was the highest even though the
region had the lowest overall contraceptive use as reported in 2013 [12].
OBJECTIVES
To determine the prevalence and pattern of contraceptive use amongst HIV infected women
attending the special treatment clinic of UATH.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The study was conducted at the Special Treatment Clinic (STC) of the University of Abuja
Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT-Abuja, North Central Nigeria. The special treatment clinic
is an outlet where outpatient care is offered to HIV positive and HIV exposed patients within
the hospital. This clinic had offered care to 2859 females of reproductive age at the end of March
2019.
It was a hospital based cross-sectional descriptive study and 383 consenting women of
reproductive age were recruited by systematic random sampling technique. Data was obtained
using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire developed based on the objectives for a seven- week period. HIV infected females in the reproductive age group (15-49 years) were included
in the study while those who were post-menopausal and acutely ill patients who could not
withstand the interviewing process were excluded.
The data collected from the study was analysed using the Statistical package for social sciences
(SPSS) software version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago USA). Data was represented using tables, bar
and pie charts. Categorical variables were expressed as proportions and percentages while
continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviations.
Ethical Issues
Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the Health Research Ethics committee of the
hospital, written informed consent was obtained from the participants and all information
obtained from the patients was kept confidential by the researcher.
RESULTS
Within the period of study 383 eligible participants were each interviewed with the study
questionnaire.
The age range of study participants was 15-49 years and the mean age was 33.4 years with a
standard deviation of 7.5 years.
In terms of marital status 57.2% were married at the time of the study, 28.7% were single, 8.6%
were widowed, 4.4% were separated while 1.6% were divorced. The type of marriage practised