Pregnancy Wantedness Among HIV Positive Adolescents and Young Adults

Background: Unintended pregnancy is a public health challenge in the United States, and studies have consistently shown that pregnancy wantedness and ambivalence are significantly related to contraceptive use among youth. While significant research has been conducted among adolescents and young adults, less is known about the pregnancy intentions of young people living with HIV. As antiretrovirals allow HIV+ individuals to live longer, the reproductive health of these individuals becomes more and more important. Methods: A sample of 150 youth living with HIV/AIDS between ages 13 to 22 were recruited from two clinics at the Children's National Medical Center to participate in a computer-assisted survey which included questions on sexual behavior, attitudes toward pregnancy, and contraceptive use. Results: Descriptive quantitative analyses will be conducted to assess sociodemogrpahics, pregnancy wantedness and ambivalence, and contraceptive use. Bivariate analyses will be conducted to analyze the relationship between pregnancy wantedness and ambivalence and contraceptive use. Initial analysis has shown that this population as a whole has a mean pregnancy wantedness of 16.4. Females reported a lower pregnancy wantedness of 14.0 compared to 18.1 in males. Sixty one percent of the study population as a whole reported using a condom during last sex to prevent pregnancy or the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Conclusions: By exploring pregnancy wantedness in youth living with HIV/AIDS and its effect on contraceptive use, better strategies and programs can be developed for this high risk, special population.