Women with HIV who have depression or anxiety are likelier to lack needed contraception.

Birth control prevents unintended pregnancies and protects health. For women living with HIV, it also stops passing the virus to babies. Yet, many women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa still face an unmet need for birth control. This means they are able to get pregnant, do not want a baby within two years, but do not use modern contraception. Researchers wanted to see if mental health issues contribute to this gap. They analyzed survey answers from women getting routine HIV care at 10 clinics in Kenya. They compared women with depression or anxiety to those without these symptoms. They discovered that women who had symptoms of either mild depression or mild anxiety were more likely to have an unmet need for modern birth control. Experiencing depression or anxiety alone did not show this link. Mental health struggles may create real obstacles to getting reproductive care.

Why it matters

For women living with HIV, avoiding an unintended pregnancy also prevents passing HIV to a baby. This study shows that depression or anxiety may be a hidden barrier to using contraception, one that contraceptive counselling could address. Screening for mental health needs during family planning visits could help more women get the method that fits their lives.

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