Integrating family planning and HIV in Ethiopia: An analysis of Pathfinder’s approach and scale-up.

Many stakeholders agree that integrating FP services and HIV prevention care and treatment services provides valuable opportunities to: increase access to contraception among clients of HIV services who do not wish to become pregnant; ensure a safe healthy pregnancy and birth for clients who do wish to have a child; and provide valuable HIV prevention and support services to FP clients. Notably the first of these opportunities contributes to preventing unintended pregnancy among women with HIV which is one of the four cornerstones of a comprehensive approach to preventing vertical transmission of HIV. Depending on local needs and health facility capacity the extent to which FP and HIV can be integrated differs particularly when introducing FP in HIV services. All HIV services that integrate FP should offer: screening for unmet need for contraception; promotion of dual method use; provision of condoms and other contraceptives according to training and availability; accurate information about all contraceptive methods; counseling for women or couples with HIV who desire a safer pregnancy; and referrals for contraceptive methods that the provider is not able to directly offer. (excerpt)