Increasing Access to Contraception for Clients with HIV: A Toolkit

With increased access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, and the resulting improvements in health, many clients with HIV are reconsidering their reproductive options — some are deciding whether to have children, and others are resuming sexual activity while wanting to avoid pregnancy. As a result, demand for contraception among clients with HIV — especially those on ARV therapy — has increased, and new integrated options for improving access to contraception are being considered.

This toolkit (start page, PDF, 1 MB) is a response to the demand for in-depth training and performance support materials by trainers, providers, and program managers who want to provide family planning services for their clients with HIV.

The toolkit can be used to:

• Train health care providers to offer contraceptives to their clients with HIV (including providers who offer ART, voluntary counseling and testing, services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, as well as family planning services)
• Inform health care professionals about the latest research and technical guidance (including 2008 guidance from the World Health Organization) related to the provision of contraception for people with HIV
• Help program managers and policy-makers develop program strategies for integrating family planning and HIV prevention, care, and treatment services

Toolkit contents include:

• A performance-based training curriculum that includes all of the resources required to conduct the suggested learning activities (including original Microsoft Word and PowerPoint files to facilitate adaptation for various participants and situations)
• Easy-to-use counseling tools, checklists, guides, and other job aids for providers and program managers
• An updated version of the orientation presentation contained in the original 2005 module, Contraception for Women and Couples with HIV
• Full-text resources of current guidance and technical information about integrating family planning and HIV services

The toolkit is also available on CD for users in developing countries with limited Internet access. To place an order, send us an email.

The toolkit was developed by Family Health International in collaboration with EngenderHealth, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).