Addressing the Reproductive Health Needs of Women Living with HIV

Pre-conception and reproductive health (RH) needs for women living with HIV are not effectively addressed in many HIV care settings. This missed opportunity has implications for both the health of women with HIV and for prevention of perinatal HIV transmission. Childbearing has been, and continues to be, an important part of the lives of many women living with HIV infection. An estimated 80% of HIV-infected women are of childbearing age and approximately 8,000 HIV-infected women give birth per year. Women living with HIV, including those who were perinatally-infected and coming of reproductive age have significant medical and psychosocial challenges that should be addressed in their reproductive healthcare. However, the structural separation of RH and HIV services through different venues and funding streams, and the uneasiness of HIV providers with RH issues have led to fragmentation of care and disregard of the RH needs of many HIV-positive women. Providing quality RH care offers the opportunity to support women's health and reproductive choices and to sustain efforts moving toward elimination of perinatal HIV transmission by assuring optimal management of HIV-positive women in pregnancy. The panel will include presentations on the policy and program issues in providing RH services and practical examples of how the care can be provided. The overview will include a review of recommendations on policy, program, and research made by an expert panel that included RH and HIV clinicians, researchers, and government agencies and the actions needed to achieve those. Participants' input will be integrated through questions and discussion.