Browsing by Author "Dampu, Nicholous"

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    Determinants of reproductive choices among people living with HIV and AIDS: the case study of Dar es Salaam
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2008) Dampu, Nicholous
    More than half of 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) in the world are within the childbearing age (15-49). While deciding on the their reproductive choices, PLHIV have been planning to bear children regardless of the risks behind their decisions which include re-infection among themselves, infecting a partner in discordant couples, infecting a baby as well as leaving children as orphans before they reach 18 years and becoming independent. The main objective of the study was to investigate the socio-cultural and economic factors determining reproductive choices among PLHIV, and find out the perception and attitude of PLHIV towards the use of family planning methods, and the value of children in the community. Random sampling was applied to select the NGOs of PLHIV and others that provide care to PLHIV for the study. Two hundred PLHIV were selected from three different centres. Participants were invited and interviewed on a voluntary basis. The findings reveal that PLHIV are determined to bear children due to various factors that include religious beliefs, socio-economic and cultural factors such as the value of children, poor family planning methods, low knowledge on use of family planning methods, low status accorded to community’s unconstructive approach and insults interrelated to unenthusiastic outlook of the community to people who are childless. Other factors revealed include lack of satisfaction with the few numbers of children PLHIV have, lack of effective linkage between Reproductive health and HIV specifically in care and treatment programmes, In conclusion, PLHIV bears children due to socio-cultural and economic factors. It would be recommended that there is a need for an appropriate and effective programme on reproductive health that links with care and treatment for PLHIV that will provide counseling, hence make informed responsible decisions on reproductive issues.