Effects of (In)Congruency in Fertility Motivation on Fertility Desire and Intention Among Couples Living with HIV: A Dyadic Approach

Abstract Fertility decision-making plays a negligible role in completing fertility goals among couples living with HIV. Furthermore, being commonly matched concerning fertility motivation also seems essential for fertility desire/intention. However, there is a lack of previous studies that report on intra-couple similarities or dissimilarities on the sequence of motivation-desire-intention on fertility. We aimed to document the effects of (in)congruency in fertility motivation linked to intention via desire among couples living with HIV. The actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) and Dyadic Response Surface Analysis were the analytical tools used in this research. Couples living with HIV were selected from the antiretroviral therapy center clinic in Kunming, China between October and December 2020. A total of 314 couples were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Only significant actor effects of fertility motivation on intention, which was partly mediated by desire based on the APIM, was observed in the wives. Husbands tended to dominate the fertility motivation. Furthermore, congruency was observed in the level of significance of the models between fertility desire and intention and between those of wife and husband. To complete the fertility goal, counseling should simultaneously assist the husband and wife to attain stronger positive fertility intention through a desire by targeting similar fertility motivations in both partners.