HIV status and postpartum contraceptive use in an antenatal population in Durban, South Africa

Objective: We examined contraceptive use and dual protection in the postpartum period in a Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission population and whether it varied by HIV status. Study design: Data are from a prospective study, the South Africa HIV Antenatal Post-test Support Study. Pregnant participants were recruited from a government clinic in an urban township, and the analytic sample was 821. Following enrollment, participants were tested for HIV and administered a questionnaire at baseline and 14 weeks postpartum. We used generalized linear regression models to examine HIV status and use of modern contraceptives at 14 weeks. Results: The risk ratio of condom use at 14 weeks postpartum was 1.66 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-2.02] for HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative women. The risk ratio for dual protection (use of a condom and a hormonal method) was 1.96 (95% CI: 1.39-2.79) at 14 weeks for HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative women. Conclusions: HIV positive status may be a motivating factor for women to use condoms and dual protection. In this setting where HIV is highly prevalent, it is ever more important that women control the timing and limiting of births so as to preserve the health of the mother and child. Implication: HIV status may be an important motivating behavioral factor for women to use contraceptives and dual protection in the postpartum period.