Factors and Motives Influencing People Living with HIV/AIDS to Desire and Intend to have Children in Swaziland

Background: Twenty six percent of people in the reproductive age (15-49) in Swaziland are living with HIV. With the introduction of Antiretroviral Therapy, people living with Human Immune Virus now live longer and stay healthy, thus they consider to have biological children of their own regardless of the risks that are involved. Some of the risks involved are infecting a sero-negative partner and the baby, also pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to describe and explore factors and motives that influence people living with HIV/AIDS to desire and intend to have children.
Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to August 2011 where people living with HIV and on antiretroviral therapy were recruited by word of mouth from the Emkhuzweni Health Centre VCT in Swaziland. Desire, intention and motives were measured using two structured questionnaires which were administered to the consenting patients who met the eligibility criteria.
Results: Out of the two hundred and twenty seven (227) patients who participated in the study, 46.6% desired and intended to have children in the near future. Fifty four percent of the male participants desired to have children while only 44.5% of the female participants desired fertility. Binary logistic regression revealed that, being male, younger age, few live children, having secondary or higher education and having disclosed status to the partner were statistically significant predictors for the desire to have children. Participants endorsed that they were motivated by happiness, well-being and continuity to have children.
Conclusion: This study has shown that PLWHA and on ART desire and intend to have children though a greater proportion lacked PMTCT knowledge thus they need to be empowered with more knowledge. We recommend that proper training for the staff and effective communication with PLWHA and their partners.