Source: The Herald
THE World Health Organisation has recommended that women continue using hormonal contraceptives in spite of revelations that their use doubles chances of uninfected women acquiring HIV.
WHO, on the advice of its guidelines review committee, said current data is not sufficiently conclusive to change current guidance, therefore the 2009 guidelines on contraceptive use remains.
"Couples seeking to prevent both unintended pregnancy and HIV should be strongly advised to use dual protection thus condoms and another effective contraceptive method such as hormonal contraceptives," reads part of the 2009 WHO guidelines.
A study published in Lancet Infectious Diseases last year in October suggested that hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill or injectable contraceptives, may increase a woman's risk of HIV infection.
In Zimbabwe, hormonal contraceptives including the pill and injectables are used by between 150 000 to 200 000 women annually.
The study also found that women living with HIV and using hormonal contraception may be more likely to transmit the virus to their partners.
This research was done among couples from Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Following these revelations, WHO convened a technical consultation to review findings from all recent epidemiological studies on the issue.
Experts who participated at the meeting emphasised the need to use condoms to prevent HIV acquisition and transmission.
They also stressed the need for further research on the issue and the importance of offering a wider choice of contraceptive options.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids) recommends that people who are sexually active, have full access to information and counselling about their sexual and reproductive health needs.
According to UNAids, women and girls must also have access to the widest range of contraceptive and HIV prevention options.
"Women need safe contraceptive and HIV prevention options that they can own and manage," said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAids.
The level of unmet family planning needs among the 1.18 billion women aged 15-49 worldwide is estimated to be 11 percent.
While a range of contraceptives protects against unintended pregnancies, only condoms, male and female, provide dual protection by stopping HIV transmission and preventing unintended pregnancies.