Choice or chance: the social context of contraceptive use by women with HCV and their reproductive & sexual health needs

丙型肝炎是一个日益严重的健康问题，目前有1%的澳大利亚人口呈丙型肝炎阳性，有迹象表明，它在育龄妇女中的增长速度更快。这项研究建立在最近的研究基础上，该研究表明，澳大利亚丙型肝炎妇女的避孕水平较低，尽管她们有特定的避孕需求，涉及垂直传播的风险，疾病对子女的影响以及在丙型肝炎治疗中使用利巴韦林（一种致畸剂）。本研究旨在通过与丙型肝炎妇女（在某些情况下是她们的伴侣）就其生活背景下影响其避孕和生殖行为的一系列复杂做法和理解进行访谈，阐明丙型肝炎妇女避孕水平低的原因。这项研究的公共卫生成果包括开发与丙型肝炎妇女的具体需求相关的避孕信息，并确定这些妇女计划生育和生殖健康服务的障碍。

Hepatitis C is a growing health concern, with 1% of the Australian population now HCV positive, and signs that it is increasing more quickly among women of child-bearing age. This study builds upon recent research that shows that Australia women with Hepatitis C have low levels of contraception even though they have specific contraceptive needs relating to concerns about the risks of vertical transmission, the effects of the diease on their children and the use of Ribavirin, a teratogen, in HCV treatment. This study aims to elucidate the reasons for this low level of contraception among women with Hepatitis C through interviews with them (and in some cases their partners) about the complex array of practices and understandings, within the contexts of their lives, that influence their contraceptive and reproductive behaviours. The public health outcomes of this research include the development of contraceptive information that is relevant to the specific needs of women with Hepatitis C and the identification of barriers to family planning and reproductive health services for these women.