Abstract:
Background: The desire to give birth is the intention that both men and women will give birth to
more offspring, despite being diagnosed with human immune virus. Over 90% of HIV infections
in infants worldwide are due to mother-to-child transmission. Despite the increasing numbers of
women living with HIV/AIDS, little is known about their actual fertility needs and their
determinant. This study is designed to gain insight into determinants of fertility desire.
Objectives: the aim of this study is to identify determinants of fertility desire among HIV
positive reproductive age women who attend ART clinic of public hospitals in north shewa,
Amhara, Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: Facility based unmatched case control study was conducted among 376(case=188,
control=188) women in 4 selected hospitals in North shewa Zone. Study was conduct from
6/June – July 24 /2022 and Simple random sampling was applied to select each respondent. Data
were collected by trained nurse and clinical pharmacy that were worked at public hospitals and
one nurse supervisor. Questionnaire was checked for completeness before data entry in to
software. Finally, data was entered in to Epi Info version 4.6.0.0 and exported to SPSS version
20 for analysis. Bivariable analysis was done to see the association between predictor variable
with outcome variable. Variables with p- value ≤ 0.2 in binary logistic regression analysis were
the candidate for multivariable logistic regression to control potential cofounder. Adjusted odd
ratio was employed to assess the presence and strength of associations and P-value ≤ 0.05 was
considered as statistically significant with fertility desire.
Result: A total of 188 cases and 188 controls completed the interview which made the
response rate was 100% and the median age of the respondents were 35years (SD±6.9).Based on
the finding being married (AOR=3.5,95%CI(1.72-6.94)), having fewer child
(AOR=5.2,95%CI(2.68-10.13)), awareness about PMTCT (AOR=7.9,95%CI (3.41-18.22)) and
currently not contraceptive use (AOR=3.1,95%CI(1.74-5.70)) were independently association
with fertility desire.
Conclusion & recommendations: In this study marital status, having fewer child,
awareness about PMTCT and current contraceptive use were significantly associated with
fertility desire. Health care providers who are working on an ART clinic should try to discuss on
sexual and reproductive health issues and provide proper counseling for those currently having
fewer child, married couples and currently contraceptive use to have HIV free child with their
clients
