Healthcare provider attitudes regarding the provision of assisted reproductive services for HIV-affected couples in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of providing assisted reproductive services as part of routine HIV care and treatment in Ethiopia.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study using semistructured in-depth interviews was conducted at St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during July 2014 and July 2015. The interviews assessed the perspectives of healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding the reproductive desires of HIV-affected couples, on assisting them in achieving pregnancy, and on the facilitators and barriers to offering such services as part of routine HIV care.

Results: There were 40 HCPs from two SPHMMC clinics interviewed. All HCPs asserted that HIV-affected couples should have equal access to assisted reproductive services and most agreed that couples should have this access to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, even in the absence of underlying infertility. However, the HCPs cited systemic and structural barriers to the implementation and delivery of assisted reproductive services.

Conclusion: The integration of assisted reproductive services into HIV care and treatment programs is acceptable and feasible to HCPs. Formal training of HCPs may improve the implementation of these services for HIV-affected couples in low-resource settings.

Keywords: HIV; Ethiopia; HIV-affected couples; Healthcare provider; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Safer conception; Sub-Saharan Africa.