The need for family planning among female clients of HIV/AIDs Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers in northeast Ethiopia: Integration of family planning with VCT

Introduction: Amalgamating family planning services with HIV/AIDS services for example VCT is very important in preventing unplanned pregnancy, plummeting number of AIDS orphan, preventing perpendicular transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Due to this reason, this study focuses on to determine the level of stipulate and unmet need for family planning among female on VCT. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study design was employed in different VCT centers. The study participants were female VCT clients who are in reproductive age group. For sample selection Multistage sampling technique was employed. The study employed mixed study approaches. Results: The result showed that large amount of VCT clients want either to limit or to delay child bearing. From the total study participants 166 sexually active clients 30% were current users of family planning methods and out of 384 non users of family planning methods 60% planned to use in the future. The unmet need for family planning among sexually active clients was 55%. The sero-status of the client was not significantly associated with the extent of family planning counseling and the level of unmet family planning need. Multivariate analysis showed that those who were in the age groups 15-19 and 20-24 years were more likely to have high unmet need for family planning as compared to those who were beyond 24 years. Conclusion: The unmet need for family planning in women VCT clients was very high and it was not given due attention at VCT centers in the study area.

Automated summary

The study found that a large number of VCT clients expressed a desire to either limit or delay childbearing. Among sexually active clients, 30% were current users of family planning, while 60% of non-users planned to use it in the future. The unmet need for family planning among sexually active clients was 55%.