A major study done in Rwanda and other 6 countries has discovered that women using birth-control pills for family planning are more likely to get infected with HIV/Aids from an infected sexual partner.
The findings also show that the women studied were about twice as likely to transmit HIV if they were on the pill or taking a hormone shot like Depo-Provera, compared to those not on the birth control.
The new study was done from 2004 to 2010 in seven African countries – Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa.
The research is the first to look at this question, said Renee Heffron of the University of Washington, one of the researchers, The Associated Press news agency reports.
The research was presented recently at a meeting in Rome of the International AIDS Society.
These damning findings come at a time when Rwanda is working on a major policy plan to curb its exploding population.
On average, Rwandan women are having 5 kids which government admits is unsustainable. Among the birth-control methods being promoted is the use of birth control pills.
New figures from government show that as of the end of last year, some 45 percent women were using contraceptives to reduce their birth numbers.
This latest research also found that uninfected women were about twice as likely to catch AIDS virus from their infected partners if they were on hormonal contraception, compared to those who were not. That finding echoed a phenomenon seen in earlier studies.
The researchers checked to make sure there were no significant differences in condom use, sexual behavior or other factors that would account for the differences.
Following comments from the Rwandan health officials and others in charge of population growth control is still underway and igihe.com is up to bringing you other details on the story.
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