The Impact of HIV Status and Perceived Status on Fertility Desires in Rural Malawi

Surprisingly little is known about how or if knowledge of one's HIV status influences the desire to have children in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper takes advantage of a unique situation in rural Malawi where no one knew their HIV status prior to testing being introduced as part of an ongoing panel study. Using a sample of men and women (n = 1,380) who were interviewed in 2001 and 2006, we examine how HIV positive and negative test results impact respondents' desires to continue childbearing. We then consider how prior perceptions of one's status influence this effect. Respondents who received a positive test result reduced their childbearing desires. When self-assessed likelihood of infection was considered, however, only those who were surprised by their test result altered their fertility preferences, a finding which held true for both positive and negative results. The implications of the results and potential applications to other HIV/AIDS research are discussed.