Contraceptive prevalence and HIV: two-directional impacts driven policies and politics

Ndola Prata, University of California, Berkeley
Ben Bellows, University of California, Berkeley
Martha M. Campbell, University of California, Berkeley
Malcolm Potts, University of California, Berkeley

The question whether the HIV epidemic has changed the nature and/ or the resources available for family planning programs continues to raise debate. In this paper we explore how international and national policies are driving the response to family planning and HIV prevention programs. Using available literature and data from two DHSs per country, we assess family planning programs’ performance and condom use in the era of HIV. We track contraceptive use since the late 80’s and map changes in policies, HIV prevalence rates, and resources allocated for both programs. We analyze Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Zimbabwe, a more successful family planning program, relying on the pill did not yet witness an increase in condom use to the level desired by the HIV program. Mozambique, a weaker family planning program in the beginning of the epidemic, is witnessing a significant increase in modern contraception including male condoms.