Quality of family planning services and integration in the prevention of vertical transmission context
Perspectives and experiences of women living with HIV and service providers in Cameroon, Nigeria, and Zambia
The report, Quality of Family Planning Services and Integration in the Prevention of Vertical Transmission Context, published by the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW), documented experiences of women living with HIV in Cameroon, Nigeria and Zambia.
This report presents the findings of a study conducted by the GNP+ and ICW, with the support of many local networks of women and people living with HIV (the Project Partners). The aims of this study were to understand:
1. The family planning experiences of women living with HIV
2. The preferences of women living with HIV
3. How care providers perceive and engage with women living with HIV
Results
This report shows that for many women living with HIV it can be a time of intense stigmatization and isolation.
Ministries of Health must urgently address stigma around HIV and pregnancy as an important step towards fulfilling human rights, and improving access to quality sexual and reproductive health services.
ICW and GNP+ call on Ministries of Health to provide discrimination-free sexual and reproductive health care to women living with HIV by improving access to and increasing the quality of counselling, as well as antiretrovirals (ARVs) and family planning commodities.
Conclusion
The study also shows that where service providers respected the human rights of women living with HIV, their clients’ experiences were also positive. Therefore, access to correct information and a range of family planning methods must be available for everyone, not just the few.
Women living with HIV have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and the spacing of their children.
You can download this 48 page document above. This resource is in English.
The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) & International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW)