Abstract
Although previous studies investigated pregnancy rates among women on antiretroviral therapy (ART), incidence of, and factors
associated with pregnancy among these women remain poorly understood. We, therefore, conducted a retrospective cohort study
at a large public HIV clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, between July 2007 and December 2010. At each clinic visit, pregnancy status
was assessed. Time to event analysis was conducted using Poisson regression. Among 4,738 women, 589 pregnancies were observed.
Pregnancy incidence was 9.3/100 person-years. After 6 months on ART, women on ART had similar total fertility rates to women
in the urban population. In multivariable analysis, increasing age and advanced WHO clinical stage were associated with decreased
probability of becoming pregnant while higher body mass index and longer time on ART were associated with increased probability
of becoming pregnant. We recommend that ART clinics integrate comprehensive family planning services to address reproductive
health needs among women on ART.
associated with pregnancy among these women remain poorly understood. We, therefore, conducted a retrospective cohort study
at a large public HIV clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, between July 2007 and December 2010. At each clinic visit, pregnancy status
was assessed. Time to event analysis was conducted using Poisson regression. Among 4,738 women, 589 pregnancies were observed.
Pregnancy incidence was 9.3/100 person-years. After 6 months on ART, women on ART had similar total fertility rates to women
in the urban population. In multivariable analysis, increasing age and advanced WHO clinical stage were associated with decreased
probability of becoming pregnant while higher body mass index and longer time on ART were associated with increased probability
of becoming pregnant. We recommend that ART clinics integrate comprehensive family planning services to address reproductive
health needs among women on ART.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0150-0
- Authors
- Hannock Tweya, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France
- Caryl Feldacker, The Lighthouse Trust, P.O. Box 106, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Elizabeth Breeze, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Andreas Jahn, International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), Lilongwe, Malawi
- Lisa Blake Haddad, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Anne Ben-Smith, Maame Akua, 43/2/391, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Thom Chaweza, The Lighthouse Trust, P.O. Box 106, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Sam Phiri, The Lighthouse Trust, P.O. Box 106, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165