Simoni and Co-Authors Utilized Mixed Methods to Study Fertility Desire and Associations with Condomless Sex, Antiretroviral Adherence, and Transmission Potential in Kenya
Posted: 2/27/2023 (CSDE Research)
In a large partnership CSDE Affiliates Jane Simoni and Grace John-Stewart along with co-authors publish their newest article “Fertility Desire and Associations with Condomless Sex, Antiretroviral Adherence, and Transmission Potential in a Cohort of Kenyan Women Living with HIV in Sero-discordant Relationships: A Mixed Methods Study“, in Aids and Behavior. This study utilizes mixed methods to study a cohort of 148 Kenyan women in serodiscordant relationships. The authors find that prostate specific antigen (PSA) in vaginal secretions, a marker for recent condomless sex, was lowest in women with fertility desire and highest in women with fertility intent. Detectable viral load followed a similar pattern. Risk of HIV transmission, when condomless sex and PSA detection occurred concurrently, was three to fourfold higher at visits with fertility intent compared to visits with fertility desire. Qualitative interviews underscored the importance women place on childbearing and suggested that they had limited information about the role of antiretroviral therapy in reducing sexual HIV transmission.