Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevention among HIV-Serodiscordant Couples in Burkina Faso: Biomedical Issues, Bioethical and Cultural Challenges

Abstract

Context: In Burkina Faso, there are young HIV-serodiscordant partners who want to get married and wish to procreate. Objectives: The purpose of this research was: 1) to assess the sexual behaviour of young people in Burkina Faso, 2) to estimate their knowledge about the modes of HIV transmission, 3) to appreciate the cultural reasons of the desire to procreate among HIV serodiscordant couples and 4) to draw some bioethical lessons. Methods: From April to Septemr 2009, the survey on HIV and reproductive health in Burkina Faso carried out with 815 young people. Among them, 407 were females and 408 males (average age: 23.59 ± 2.99). They have voluntarily agreed to answer a questionnaire which gave the following results. Results: This study shows that young people in Burkina Faso had their first sexual intercourse at 18.99 ± 2.76 years, 23.68% (193/815) were afraid to be tested for HIV, 30.92% (252/815) have not yet been tested for HIV-serostatus and 39.75% (324/815) of them have never heard of HIV vertical transmission. Despite the fact that 36.81% (300/815) are HIV negative, they would be willing to marry the beloved HIV positive person and amongst them, 28.34% (231/815) want a child even with an HIV positive person beloved. Conclusion: So far, there is no effective vaccine against HIV. However, it is clear that Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) associated with ethical and cultural good options can contribute to reduce the spread of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.