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Table 2 Key questions from the focus group discussion guide

From: Provider attitudes about childbearing and knowledge of safer conception at two HIV clinics in Malawi

Provider attitudes

Childbearing among clients living with HIV

What do you say to your HIV clients when they say that they would like to have children or that they are concerned about having children? Do you ask your clients about their desires and/or concerns about having children? How often? What have you heard or do you know about the attitudes or opinions of other health care providers regarding HIV clients’ desires to have children either at your clinic or in your experiences outside this clinic?

Partner involvement in decisions about having children

Do you think health care providers should involve clients’ partners in the decision making process about having children and in the delivery of reproductive/family planning services? What are the challenges in Malawi for involving partners in reproductive health/family planning?

Provider knowledge

HIV, reproductive health and PMTCT

Have you had any training that has taught you about reproductive health/family planning needs of HIV clients? If so, in what way were you taught about meeting these needs?

Safer conception

What do you tell clients about having a child when the female partner is HIV+ and the male partner is HIV negative? Is there any specific advice you give about how to prevent transmission to the HIV uninfected partner in this situation? What do you tell clients about having a child when the male partner is HIV+ and the female partner is HIV-negative? Is there any specific advice you give about how to prevent transmission to the HIV uninfected partner in this situation? What do you tell clients if both partners are HIV+ and want to have a child?