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Association Between Unplanned Pregnancy and HIV Seropositivity Disclosure to Marital/Cohabitating Partner Among Post-natal Women in Lusaka, Zambia
Abstract
Objectives: To determine any association between unplanned pregnancy and HIV seropositivity disclosure to stable partner among postnatal women in Lusaka.
Design: Using a cross-sectional study design the disclosure patterns of 100 postnatal women with unplanned pregnancies were compared to a similar group of 100 women with planned pregnancies.
Results: The crude OR for disclosure of a positive HIV result to partner (planned pregnancy/unplanned pregnancy) was 1.839 (CI= 1.002-3.372). After adjusting for participant and partner's feelings after pregnancy discovery, partner's occupation, condom use in the relationship and length of stay with partner this OR was 2.835 (CI=0.690 -11.643). 66.7% of those that reported that their partners had worries, depression or sadness after disclosure had unplanned pregnancies whereas 83.3% of those that expressed no emotions had planned pregnancies.
Conclusions: Possibility of antenatal HIV seropositivity disclosure to partner is the same whether the pregnancy is planned or not. Unplanned pregnancy is associated with more negative reactions by partner after disclosure.