OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies among HIV-infected women in care in the United States.

METHODS

We used the 2007-2008 cycles of the Medical Monitoring Project, which collected data on HIV-infected adults in care. Women were included if they had an HIV diagnosis before 45 years of age and responded to questions about pregnancies and pregnancy planning after HIV diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for correlates of unplanned pregnancies among women with ≥ 1 pregnancy at or after an HIV diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 1492 women, 382 (25.6%) reported ≥ 1 pregnancy after HIV diagnosis (median diagnosis age = 25.0 years; interquartile range = 21.0-30.0); 58% were non-Hispanic black, 22% Hispanic, and 15% non-Hispanic white. Of those, 326 (85.3%) reported ≥ 1 unplanned pregnancy; 124 (32.5%) reported recent unprotected vaginal and/or anal sex with a male partner with either negative or unknown HIV status. Unplanned pregnancies were more likely among women who reported nadir CD4 cell counts <200 cells/μL (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2 to 4.8) or did not report nadir CD4 cell counts (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI: 1.9 to 10.5) compared with women who reported nadir CD4 cell counts ≥ 200 cells/μL; and who received public assistance in the most recent year before Medical Monitoring Project interview (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.8) compared with women who did not receive assistance.

CONCLUSIONS

Unplanned pregnancies were prevalent among our sample. To avoid unplanned pregnancies, HIV-infected women need access to effective family planning services and risk reduction discussions during routine care visits.