In this study, 268 HIV-positive reproductive-age women were included, and the prevalence of DCM use was low. This result is consistent with a recent meta-analysis reporting a pooled prevalence of 27.7% (12). Additionally, studies conducted in Thailand (29.6%), southeast Nigeria (27%.), Malawi (26.5%), Gondar-Ethiopia (28.8%), Fitche (32.0%), and Wolaita zone-Ethiopia (28.6%) have reported comparable results (5, 9, 16, 20, 21, 24).
However, studies from other countries and regions in Ethiopia have reported much lower prevalence, contrary to the present study. For instance, studies in India (23.0%), Zambia (17.7%), and Togo (16.9%) from Africa, as well as studies conducted in Mekelle (15.7%), Gonder University (13.2%), and Keffa (19.8%), all revealed lower percentages of DCM use (7, 11, 18, 19, 22, 23). This marked disparity can be mainly explained by temporal differences, in which older studies reported lower rates (11, 23). The increasing trend in DCM use over the years might indicate the effect of interventions that addressed underutilization and improved ART follow-up in recent years. Another possible explanation for this disparity might be sociodemographic variability and different study designs and data collection techniques (16, 23).
The prevalence of DCM use in this study was lower than that in other countries such as the USA (39%), Kenya (38.5%), and in Tigra region, Ethiopia (45.2%) (17, 25, 27). These studies show that some countries have managed to improve DCM use years in advance compared to several other regions. It is evident that recognition of the effectiveness of DCM use and the presence of controlled studies may have encouraged health promotion services targeting PLHIV (27).
This study revealed factors significantly associated with DCM use among HIV-positive women. Younger age (less than 40), no desire to have children, and open discussions with partners about contraception strongly predicted DCM use. Being married, having a CD4-count and pregnancy or childbirth after HIV diagnosis were found to have weaker associations in this study.
The finding of increased DCM use among women younger than 40 years is supported by studies conducted in Gonder University and Fitche zone in Ethiopia and in studies conducted in Kenya, Tanzania, and Namibia in 2014 and in Zambia (4, 11, 20, 22), whereas a reversed association was found in Cameron and in Keffa region, Ethiopia (8, 19). In this study, women at the peak of their reproductive age (30s), who also represented most of the participants, showed stronger associations than older women, which may be explained by the decline in sexual activity and desire to have children at an advanced age. Marital status was significantly associated with DCM use in this study; however, the extremely wide CI found in this study, likely due to an inadequate sample size, allows no meaningful interpretation.
Furthermore, an association was detected between the lack of desire to have children and DCM use. This finding is in-line with studies conducted in Thailand, Kenya, Bahir-Dar, Borena, Fitche and Wolaita regions in Ethiopia (14, 15, 20, 21, 24, 25). This association could be the consequence of having knowledge of increased pregnancy-associated complications in HIV-infected women and fear of MTCT, which, although not investigated in this study, may have a mediating effect on other factors that predict DCM use. In the present study, the association between parity, pregnancy/childbirth after HIV diagnosis, and marital status was significantly attenuated in the final model, independently leaving desire for having no children as a strong predictor.
The association between DCM use and CD4 count knowledge was also reported in a systematic review by Ayele et al. in 2021 (13). A similar finding was evident in the Keffa zone, Ethiopia, and Zambia (11, 19). This study also found that the proportion of women who had knowledge about their CD4 count was extremely low, which could contribute toward the low prevalence of DCM use in general. Sero-discrodant couples were found to have decreased DCM use in this study, the odds of which became insignificant during model adjustment. However, this is a concerning finding that may be related to women not disclosing their HIV status, which may not have been reported during this survey.
Open discussions about contraception use with partners showed a consistent association with DCM use across studies according to systematic reviews conducted in Ethiopia (12, 13). Studies that reported similar finding were conducted in Gonder University, Tigray, Mekele, Keffa, and Wolaita (17–19, 21, 22). Discussing contraception use is a marker of women’s freedom to negotiate safe sex and birth spacing. Unlike other studies, this study failed to detect an association between DCM use and counseling about DCM use by ART service providers and partners involved in counseling sessions (12, 15, 18, 22, 23). Although the majority of women reported having been counseled, the absence of increased DCM use in this group may indicate disorganized and ineffective counseling regarding family planning and failure to encourage partners to participate in these sessions in HUCSH.
This study was conducted to fill the knowledge gap discovered about the status of HIV-positive women practice of contraception use, in Hawassa and surrounding areas, Sidama, Ethiopia. This study was institutional based, acquired the desired sample size, and used random sampling. All these attributes allow us to generalize the study findings to most HIV-positive reproductive-age women who receive ART services at HUCSH and grossly reflect explanatory factors that promote DCM use. However, since the analysis of associated factors was conducted in an exploratory manner, a study that provides accurate power is needed to confirm predictive ability. It is also noteworthy that due to the private nature of the queries in this survey the data is subject to reporting bias.
Nevertheless, the factors described and identified to have an association with DCM use provide directions on what sociocultural influencers require prudent intervention to promote women’s freedom to seek knowledge, counseling, healthcare, and access to family planning services. Accordingly, ART services and family planning counselors must be accountable for the initiation of DCM use once diagnosed and follow for sustained use throughout the reproductive period; They must strongly relay the relevance of DCM use, pregnancy risks, and must ensure that these women have their CD4 counts known. Equally significant is the provision of counseling and psychological support for women who wish to overcome fear, disclose their status, and discuss their desires and reproductive plans with their partners.