Birth control jabs could lead to HIV
Rethink required on frequent use of long-term injectable contraceptives
FREQUENT use of long-term injectable contraceptives could put young women at risk of HIV infection following new evidence that found this form of birth control caused genital inflammation – a breeding ground for HIV infection.
A study, which was carried out by UCT and presented at the 2nd HIV Research for Prevention (HIVR4P) conference in Chicago last week, found HIV-negative teenagers, who were using the three-month injection, Depo-Provera and the twomonth Nur-Isterate were found to have raised levels of cytokines (inflammatory molecules) compared to their counterparts who were not using the injection.
Smritee Dabee a PhD student in Medical virology who conducted the study on 90 teenage girls from Cape Town and Joburg, was awarded the New Investigator’s Award at the conference along with seven other young investigators, including another UCT researcher, Daniel Sheward.
Dabee and her research team found not only did these girls have lower levels of oestrogen (female hormone), but inflammatory cytokines concentration in their genital tract was higher. High concentration of cytokines or raised inflammation was linked with HIV acquisition.
According to the research by the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa last year, HIV acquisition was found to be significantly higher among South African women who had raised genital inflammation.
Young women and adolescent girls in South Africa are the most vulnerable group to HIV infection.
Almost 2 000 new HIV infections occur among young women and adolescent girls (aged 15-24) in South Africa each week – they are three times more at risk compared to their male counterparts.
Dabee said frequent use of long-term injectable contraceptives and their effect on inflammation could, in part, explain HIV vulnerability in this age group.
She said while injectable contraceptives had significant benefits on young women and empowered many to take control of their family planning, including keeping many girls in school, but given the new evidence, other birth control alternatives such as the vaginal ring, the pill and birth control implants needed to be considered by policy makers and health authorities.
“In a South African context where there is a lot of teenage pregnancy, we cannot discredit injectable contraceptives as more evidence is still needed to confirm our research, but at the same time we need to be cautious and not put young women’s lives at risk of HIV infection.
“At the moment in SA injectable contraceptive are the most practical for many women as they are long term and don’t require women to make frequent visits to the clinic” she said.