FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSEQUENT PREGNANCY IN HIV-INFECTED WOMEN AND HIV-NEGATIVE WOMEN: EXPERIENCE FROM URBAN ZIMBABWE

Background: Integrating family planning services with prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs are crucial in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV seroprevalence and rates of unintended pregnancy are high. The objective of this study was to determine predictors of repeat pregnancy among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in urban Zimbabwe. Methods: The study was conducted at antenatal clinics in Chitungwiza, a high-density urban town on the outskirts of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, where HIV prevalence among pregnant women is estimated to be around 20%. Using a cross-sectional design, 79 HIV-positive women who had participated in PMTCT during their index pregnancy and 80 HIV-negative controls were interviewed in Shona using a standardized questionnaire 24 months after delivery of their index pregnancy. T-tests, Chi-square and ANOVA were used to compare the two groups on all variables including demographics, index pregnancy, repeat pregnancy, and fertility attitude scores. Logistic regression was used to determine whether a relationship exists between repeat pregnancy and HIV-status, socio-economic status, age, fertility attitude score, and previous pregnancy outcomes.