ASSESSMENT OF FERTILITY DESIRE AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/ AIDS WHO ATTEND ANTI RETROVIRAL THERAPY CLINIC OF SELECTED HOSPITAL, GURAGE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Introduction: 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. However, the introduction of antiretroviral therapy has extended the lives of People Living with HIV /AIDS, allowing them to consider having children. The People Living with HIV/AIDS may want to get pregnant and wantto start a family. It is imperative to understand that how these intentions and desires differ depending on an individual's, social, demographic and health related knowledge. Objective: To assess fertility desire among people living with HIV/AIDS who attend anti retroviraltherapyclinic: the case of selected hospitals in Gurage zone.Method: Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from May 26/ 2023 up to June 26/ 2023 in selected hospital. Convenient sampling technique was used to select participants of the study. Data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that the fertility desire of PLWHA in the study area was 72.8%. On the other hand, about 49.0% of the respondents have poor knowledge about reproductive health knowledge related to fertility desire. Conclusions and Recommendations: from these results it can be inferred that the finding of this study has an implication for the health care provider to consider the effects of fertility desire as well as knowledge about reproductive health while discussing the reproductive option, family planning service, and safer conception; providing adequate information about PMTCT of HIV; and assisting them in making informed reproductive decision to minimize the risk of MTCT of HIV and unplanned pregnancy. Therefore, it is recommended that health care providers better to arrange ways to enhance the understanding of fertility desire as well as to acquaint knowledge about reproductive health related issues among not only in women but also among men living with HIV.