Utilization of Preconception Care, and Associated Factors Among HIV Positive Reproductive Age Women Attending Art Clinics at Gamo Zone Government Health Institutions Southern Ethiopia, 2020

Abstract Background: Preconception care is specialized care targeted at women of reproductive age before and between pregnancies to increase the chance of having a healthy baby and being a healthy mother. The prevalence of preconception care in HIV-positive women was low which increase the vertical transmission of the Human Immune Deficiency Virus and adverse birth outcomes. Objective ፡ To assess utilization of preconception care and associated factors among Human Immune Deficiency Virus positive reproductive age women attending Anti-Retroviral Treatment clinics in Gamo zone 2020/2021 Method: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted fromMarch20-May132021. 559 study participants were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using Structured, pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaires, then coded and entered into Epi data 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for cleaning and analysis. In bivariate analysisvariables with a P-value < 0.25 were transferred to multivariate analysisand a P-value of < 0.05 with 95%, CI is considered for the presence of a statistically significant association. Result: A total of 559 HIV-positive women participated with a response rate of 97.9% .over all utilization of preconception care was32%. Education, Monthly income,History of pregnancy, Number of pregnancyand Occupation were significantly associated with utilization of preconception care with (AOR: 4.42; 95%CI: 1.48, 13.17), (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI 1.41, 5.74), (AOR: 2.99; 95% CI 1.18, 7.71), (AOR: 2.97; 95% CI 1.28, 6.91), and(AOR: 0.45; 95% CI 0.21, 0.96) respectively. Conclusion : prevalence of preconception care among HIV-positive women was law. Educational status, occupation, monthly income, history of pregnancy, and several pregnancies were factors associated with utilization of preconception care. All stakeholders should work together to address the identified problems.