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Table 1 Study measures

From: “Our Choice” improves use of safer conception methods among HIV serodiscordant couples in Uganda: a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating two implementation approaches

Primary outcomes

 Use of appropriate reproductive method to achieve stated reproductive goal (among whole sample)

Client’s self-reported use of accurate SCM (if trying to conceive) or modern contraceptives (if not trying to conceive), as defined below.

 Accurate use of safer conception methods (among those trying to conceive)

Interviewer-rated criterion-based assessment of client’s self-reported use of timed condomless intercourse (TCI), manual self-insemination (MSI), or sperm washing.

 Use of modern contraceptives (among those not trying to conceive)

Client’s self-reported use of modern contraceptives (birth control pills, medroxyprogesterone acetate injection, intrauterine device, implant, or tubal ligation/vasectomy).

Secondary outcomes

 Any use of SCM (among those trying to conceive)

Client’s self-reported use of the following:

TCI: Did you have condomless or “live” sex only on the 3 days each month in which you/your partner were/was most fertile?

Sperm washing: Did you/your partner pay for technology that cleanses your/your partner’s sperm or semen of the HIV virus?

MSI (among female clients): Did you/your partner ejaculate into a condom or container and then manually inject the semen into your/partner’s vagina?

 Use of any method to prevent pregnancy (among those not trying to conceive)

Use of modern contraceptives, consistent condom use, or abstinence.

 Pregnancy status

Whether or not female partner become pregnant during the study, confirmed via pregnancy test conducted by FP nurse.

 Partner seroconversion

Partner HIV status based on rapid HIV test conducted by clinic staff at month 12 or at post-pregnancy assessment.

Covariates

 Demographics

Age, sex, and education level (whether or not any secondary education was completed) as self-reported by client.

 HIV medical and care characteristics

HIV diagnosis date, ART status, most recent CD4 count and HIV viral load were abstracted from the clients’ clinic chart.

 Relationship/partner characteristics

Marital status, length of relationship, co-habitation with partner, partner’s age, and whether partner was using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), all assessed via client self-report.

 Reproductive health history and behaviors

History of respondent or partner having biological children, having a child together, having been tested for infertility, or a health care provider ever telling them they may have fertility problems, and whether either had been diagnosed or (and treated for) a sexually transmitted infection in the prior 6 months, via client self-report.