ensuring sexual and reproductive health for people living with HIV

vol 15 no 29 supplement

People with HIV have sexual and reproductive health needs and concerns, some of which are related to having HIV and others of which they have in common with their peers. Yet, sexual and reproductive health policies, programmes and health services often fail to take their needs and wishes into consideration.

In March 2006 a global consultation on the rights of people living with HIV to sexual and reproductive health was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The papers in this volume were originally commissioned by the WHO Department of Reproductive Health and Research as background papers for the consultation, and then substantially revised.

The papers review what is known about the specific needs of people living with HIV and the challenges of providing appropriate services. They include an overview of key human rights, policy and health systems issues, and papers on parenthood; contraception, abortion and fertility control; sexual health; challenges for health care providers; and the perspectives and experiences of HIV-positive women and men.