Reaching People Living with HIV with Family Planning Services through an Integrated FP/TB/HIV Program in Mwase-Lundazi, Eastern Province, Zambia

Christina Wegs, CARE USA
Jennifer Kuzara, CARE USA
Jane Alaii, FHI 360
Geeta Nanda, FHI 360
Theresa Hwang, CARE USA
Philemon Cheeba, CARE Zambia
Bamikale Feyisetan, FHI 360

This study assessed the effects of an integrated FP/HIV program in Mwase Zonal Rural Health Center Zone, Zambia. The program strengthened family planning screening/referral systems and utilized community-based SBCC approaches to help address barriers to family planning. Use of a modern family planning method by women increased from 43% at baseline to 54% at endline. Approval of family planning by women increased for both female respondents overall (p=.021) and for HIV-positive female respondents (p=.038). Male approval for FP remained fairly constant, but larger proportions of women in the endline sample perceived that their husband or partner approved of FP compared to baseline female respondents (p=.016.) Perceived norms of ideal family size shifted downwards for both male and female respondents: at endline, 47.7% of women and 54.6% of men reported the community’s ideal family size included 6 or more children (vs. 67% of women and 66.2% of men at baseline.)