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Integrating Family Planning Services into HIV Care: Use of a Point-of-Care Electronic Medical Record System in Lilongwe, Malawi

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Background: Integrating family planning (FP) services into human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) clinical care helps improve access to contraceptives for women living with HIV. However,
high patient volumes may limit providers’ ability to counsel women about pregnancy risks
and contraceptive options.

Objectives: To assess trends in the use of contraceptive methods after implementing an
electronic medical record (EMR) system with FP questions and determine the reasons for nonuse
of contraceptives among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) receiving antiretroviral
therapy (ART) at the Martin Preuss Center clinic in Malawi.

Methods: In February 2012, two FP questions were incorporated into the ART EMR system
(initial FP EMR module) to prompt providers to offer contraceptives to women. In July 2013,
additional questions were added to the FP EMR module (enhanced FP EMR) to prompt
providers to assess risks of unintended pregnancies, solicit reasons for non-use of contraceptives
and offer contraceptives to non-pregnant women . We conducted a retrospective,
longitudinal cohort study using the EMR routinely collected data. The primary outcome was
the use of any modern contraceptive method. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the
study population and report trends in contraceptive use during the initial and enhanced
study periods.

Results: Between February 2012 and December 2016, in HIV clinics, 20,253 women of
reproductive age received ART, resulting in 163,325 clinic visits observations. The proportion
of women using contraceptives increased significantly from 18% to 39% between February
2012 and June 2013, and from 39% to 67% between July 2013 and December 2016 (chisquare
for trend p < 0.001). Common reasons reported for the non-use of contraceptives
among those at risk of unintended pregnancy were: pregnancy ambivalence (n = 234, 51%)
and never thought about it (n = 133, 29%).
Conclusion: Incorporating the FP EMR module into HIV clinical care prompted healthcare
workers to encourage the use of contraceptives.

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Publication Information
: Informa UK Limited.,
Number of Pages
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ISBN
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Language
English
ISSN
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Subject(s)
Family planning
HIV care
Electronic Medical Record System
Malawi
Ability to Counsel Women
Pregnancy Risks
Contraceptive Options
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Article
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