Depo injection to stay despite risks
‘Withdrawal would lead to more deaths’
Despite concerns that a contraceptive injection known as Depo-Provera increases the risk of HIV‚ withdrawing it from South Africa would increase maternal mortality and unsafe abortions‚ according to a new study.
Media reports last week highlighted concerns that the widely used injection is linked to a possible 40% increased risk of HIV infection.
It is thought the hormone contained in the contraception‚ medroxyprogesterone acetate‚ may suppress the immune system and make it easier for the virus to travel through cells in a women’s genital tract.
A new study in the journal Global Health: Science and Practice weighed up the issue of removing the injection as a contraception option from SubSaharan African countries.
The study found it would lead to an increased likelihood of maternal deaths across the continent‚ outweighing the risk of increased HIV infections and subsequent deaths.
Last week‚ website Aids Map‚ using the study‚ explained that if the injection was withdrawn from SA there would be 146 additional maternal deaths per 100 000 women as a result of more pregnancies. That death toll is more than a modelled extra 117 HIV infections per 100 000.
The study found it would be too difficult to change all people in Sub-Saharan Africa to different contraceptives and maternal mortality deaths would spike‚ as would unwanted children.
In the meantime‚ scientists are awaiting the results of the randomised control Echo trial being conducted in South Africa‚ Zimbabwe and Kenya‚ to see if it leads to an increased risk of HIV.