Acknowledging women?s sexual and reproductive rights: a key to the provision of more integrated and effective health care in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

GOGNA, MONICA; MANZELLI, HERNÁN; FERNÁNDEZ, SILVIA

Viena

Conferencia; XVIII International AIDS Conference; 2010

International AIDS Conference

Background: The paper analyzes to what extent and how are the contraceptive needs and rights of people living with HIV being acknowledged and fulfilled in Argentina from the perspective of both health care users and service managers/providers. Methods: The paper builds on the findings of: a) a qualitative research jointly developed by CEDES and the Buenos Aires AIDS Coordination; b) a national quantitative-qualitative study that included a survey amongst men and women living with HIV (N=841) and 49 semi-structured interviews with female and male NGO representatives and health providers/HIV-AIDS program coordinators (Pecheny, M. and Manzelli, H., 2006). Results: 55 percent of women and 30 percent of men had had children after their HIV diagnosis. Half of those pregnancies had been unintended, thus revealing an unmet need for contraception. At the time of the survey, 73 percent of men and 64 percent of women didn?t want a (new) pregnancy. Double protection is not encouraged by the vast majority of physicians, who only recommend condoms to prevent infections or re-infections and unwanted pregnancies. Only one out of ten people interviewed who risk an unwanted pregnancy uses condoms plus another birth-control method. Professionals? lack of updated information about interactions between antiretroviral drugs and contraceptive methods and inefficient referral among infectious diseases specialists and family planning providers were the main problems identified. Physicians? lack of ?gender competence? and of abilities to address sexuality-related issues also hindered an adequate response to users? contraceptive needs. Conclusions: Physicians? knowledge regarding HIV and contraception needs to be updated (when necessary) in trainings that also provide them with a gender and rights perspective. Interdisciplinary approaches to contraceptive counselling and the incorporation of people living with HIV as counsellors are also key strategies to enhance service efficiency as well as to the fulfilment of sexual and reproductive rights.