Abstract
BACKGROUND: The family planning options for reproductive-age women who are in antiretroviral therapy should consider different types of contraceptive methods including condom use. There is a high unmet need and unplanned pregnancies in Ethiopia among HIV-positive women. Attention was not given towards contraceptive use for HIV women in Ethiopia including the study area. The study aimed to assess contraceptive use and associated factors among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) on Antiretroviral therapy in Awabel Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 572 women of reproductive age who were receiving HIV care and treatment. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire, entered by Epidata3.1 and exported to IBM SPSS for statistics version 20 for analysis.Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with contraceptive use and the presence of significant association was declared at p-value <0.05 and 95% confidence level. RESULT: A total of 526 out of 572 women have responded, with a response rate of 91.9%. Two-thirds (66.5% (95% CI: 63.5, 69.5)) of the study participants were using contraceptive methods at the time of the survey. Women living in areas (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.16, 3.72), and those who disclosed their HIV status to their partner (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.37, 4.95) were more likely to use contraceptives. While Women (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.69) and their partners (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.97) who had desire to have a child were less likely to use contraceptives. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of contraceptive use among reproductive-age women who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) was lower than a systematic review done in Ethiopia and higher than the national target. Intervention targeting on implementation of contraceptive methods, and counseling about contraceptives to address their question of fertility desire and knowledge were recommended.