Table 2.
A Selection of Remaining Research Questions Related to the Reproductive Health of HIV-Infected Young Women
| Relationships and disclosure |
| • What is distinctive about the romantic/sexual relationships of HIV-infected young women? |
| • How does disclosure and HIV status factor into their relationship trajectories? |
| • How does disclosure factor into discussions between them and their partners about pregnancy and contraceptive use? |
| Pregnancy intentions |
| • What are the short-term pregnancy intentions of HIV-infected young women? |
| • How are their pregnancy intentions different, compared to HIV-uninfected young women? |
| • How do their HIV status and disclosure factor into their pregnancy intentions? |
| • What are their pregnancy prevention and preconception health service needs? |
| Contraceptive and condom use |
| • What is the contraceptive knowledge, including for dual protection (from STI/HIV and unintended pregnancy) of HIV-infected young women? What are their preferences? |
| • What methods do they use for contraception? What contraceptive experience do they have? |
| • What barriers do they face to contraceptive and condom use? How are they different from those that HIV-uninfected young women face? |
| Biomedical questions |
| • How does hormonal contraceptive use affect HIV transmission and the course of infection among HIV-infected young women? |
| • How does hormonal contraceptive use affect their metabolism? |
| • What are the interactions of hormonal contraceptive use and antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected young women, locally in the genital tract and systemically? |
| Other service questions |
| • How do HIV interventions for HIV-infected young women affect their reproductive health outcomes, such as pregnancy and contraceptive use? |
| • How could health care services for HIV-infected young women better incorporate and support their reproductive health needs? |