Kenya: Dual Protection Will Reduce Risk Of HIV Infections

[Guest guest]

Dual Protection Will Reduce Risk Of HIV Infections

MONDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2011 16:53

BY PROFESSOR JAPHETH MATI

A research report published in the Lancet on October 4 2011 has provoked

widespread fear throughout the world. This multi-centre study involving seven

African countries: Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and

Zimbabwe, has shown increased risk of HIV/Aids infection to women who used

hormonal contraceptives – particularly injectable methods like Depo Provera, as

well as to male partners among discordant couples. The global concern is due to

the fact that there are more than 140 million women worldwide using hormonal

contraceptive methods.

In most African countries, Kenya included, the injectable contraceptive is the

most widely preferred method. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2008-o9)

showed that more than a half (22 per cent) of the 39 per cent of Kenyan married

women using a modern contraceptive method relied on Depo Provera. Three points

are worth emphasising.

First, generally, hormonal contraceptives are safe and effective family planning

methods that are central to initiatives to reduce unintended pregnancies,

empower women, promote economic development, and improve maternal and child

health. Family planning has a key role to play in the attainment of Millennium

Development Goals.

Second, there is no such thing as a contraceptive that is 100 per cent safe and,

in fact, contraceptive practice is associated with a variety of risks, depending

on the method used. This is why family planning service providers have a

responsibility to assess the risk to clients of developing method-associated

complications (side effects), depending on the health history and the nature of

the method chosen. It is important that all clients seeking family planning

services should be assessed with regard to their risk of STIs including

HIV/Aids, remembering that all persons at risk of getting infected with an STI

are also at risk of getting infected with HIV. It must be realized that HIV/Aids

is largely a sexually transmitted disease.

The third point to emphasise is that whereas hormonal contraceptive methods are

extremely effective in preventing pregnancy they do not prevent infection with

STIs including HIV. On the other hand, proper and consistent use of condoms

(male and female) is an effective way of preventing most STIs, including HIV.

This is why family planning service providers should promote dual protection-

the use of condoms for clients who are at risk of acquiring STIs even when they

are using other methods of family planning methods.

In Kenya, the above points are emphasised in the Fourth (2009) Revised Edition

of Family Planning Guidelines for Service Providers published by the Division of

Reproductive Health, Ministry of Health, which is updated from time to time to

incorporate evolving research evidence. It is guided by a WHO Scientific Working

Group which periodically reviews the latest scientific information on safety of

contraceptive methods, and makes recommendations on criteria for their use in

different situations (WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria).

Prof Japheth Mati is a Director at the Institute for Reproductive Health

Training and Research.

Source:

http://www.the-star.co.ke/opinions/others/43947-dual-protection-will-reduce-risk\

-of-hiv-infections-

[Guest guest]

Dual Protection Will Reduce Risk Of HIV Infections

MONDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2011 16:53

BY PROFESSOR JAPHETH MATI

A research report published in the Lancet on October 4 2011 has provoked

widespread fear throughout the world. This multi-centre study involving seven

African countries: Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and

Zimbabwe, has shown increased risk of HIV/Aids infection to women who used

hormonal contraceptives – particularly injectable methods like Depo Provera, as

well as to male partners among discordant couples. The global concern is due to

the fact that there are more than 140 million women worldwide using hormonal

contraceptive methods.

In most African countries, Kenya included, the injectable contraceptive is the

most widely preferred method. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2008-o9)

showed that more than a half (22 per cent) of the 39 per cent of Kenyan married

women using a modern contraceptive method relied on Depo Provera. Three points

are worth emphasising.

First, generally, hormonal contraceptives are safe and effective family planning

methods that are central to initiatives to reduce unintended pregnancies,

empower women, promote economic development, and improve maternal and child

health. Family planning has a key role to play in the attainment of Millennium

Development Goals.

Second, there is no such thing as a contraceptive that is 100 per cent safe and,

in fact, contraceptive practice is associated with a variety of risks, depending

on the method used. This is why family planning service providers have a

responsibility to assess the risk to clients of developing method-associated

complications (side effects), depending on the health history and the nature of

the method chosen. It is important that all clients seeking family planning

services should be assessed with regard to their risk of STIs including

HIV/Aids, remembering that all persons at risk of getting infected with an STI

are also at risk of getting infected with HIV. It must be realized that HIV/Aids

is largely a sexually transmitted disease.

The third point to emphasise is that whereas hormonal contraceptive methods are

extremely effective in preventing pregnancy they do not prevent infection with

STIs including HIV. On the other hand, proper and consistent use of condoms

(male and female) is an effective way of preventing most STIs, including HIV.

This is why family planning service providers should promote dual protection-

the use of condoms for clients who are at risk of acquiring STIs even when they

are using other methods of family planning methods.

In Kenya, the above points are emphasised in the Fourth (2009) Revised Edition

of Family Planning Guidelines for Service Providers published by the Division of

Reproductive Health, Ministry of Health, which is updated from time to time to

incorporate evolving research evidence. It is guided by a WHO Scientific Working

Group which periodically reviews the latest scientific information on safety of

contraceptive methods, and makes recommendations on criteria for their use in

different situations (WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria).

Prof Japheth Mati is a Director at the Institute for Reproductive Health

Training and Research.

Source:

http://www.the-star.co.ke/opinions/others/43947-dual-protection-will-reduce-risk\

-of-hiv-infections-