Integration of family planning with HIV/AIDS in private health sectors in Ethiopia

Issue: Unmet need for family planning for PLWHAS in Ethiopia is not well known, however over half of Ethiopians with HIV are women of reproductive age, and many HIV-infected women want FP as compared to 19% in Kenya.The contribution of the private health sector in providing FP service is low only 13 %. Private health Sector program works in seven regions of the country to increase access to Long Acting FP at private health facilities.

Description: PHSP trained 142 service providers on focusing Long Acting FP, initiated in 112 PHSP supported private health facilities, with 82% providing integrated FP/HCT/TB service, nearly 36%(40) providing integrated FP/PMTCT/ART services.These facilities served 4,523 clients with a wide method mix based on informed choice. 15% FP users were offered for HIV testing, 59 % FP users tested for HIV, with 93.4 % testing negative & 6.6% positive .62.4% HIV negative women choose injectable followed by pills (19%), Implants (15%), IUCD (1.4%) and male condom (1.4%). 72% HIV positive women choose injectable followed by pills (16%), implant(8%) and male condom (4%).

Lessons learn: Providing integrated services at private health facilities increase the number of users, for HIV- and HIV+ women, adolescents and men. There is significant demand for FP services in the community.

Conclusion and recommendation: Provision of integrated FP with HIV/AIDS service addresses poor access to basic public health services and increase service coverage, client satisfaction within integrated approach in private health facilities. Strengthen public private partnership, supply commodities and demand creation is needed.