Gurmu Tesfaye, Bachu Tufa, Jimma Likisa, Minyahil Alebachew, Gobezie Temesgen and Hunduma Dinsa
Background: Every day there are nearly 1800 new HIV infections in children under 15 years of age, more than 90% occurring in the developing world. Most (about 90%) of these infections are associated with mother-to-childtransmission (MTCT). Moreover about, 1400 children under 15 years of age die of an HIV-related illness per day. Hence, this study tried to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice with prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS among pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care clinic at Ambo General Hospital from April 1-May 30, 2014. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 238 antenatal care attendees. Data were collected through structured pre-tested questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi Info and analyzed by using SPSS software for windows. Frequency and percentage were done.
Results: The study showed that all of the respondents heard about HIV/AIDS and about MTCT of HIV. Concerning the time of transmission of the virus from the infected mother to her child, 74 (31.4%) responded that it could be through breast feeding, 69 (29.2%) during pregnancy, 6 (27.5%) during labor and 2 (11.9%) did not know respectively. All the respondents have been tested for HIV. Among these, 87 (36.38%) tested six months ago, 76 (32.2%) tested three months ago, 37 (15.7%) tested one year ago and 36 (15.3%) tested on the recent pregnancy. All of them had preand post-counseling services. The study have showed that most of the respondents, 221 (93.6%), had good attitude towards PMTCT of HIV, while only 6.4 (28.73%) had poor attitude.
Conclusion: Accordingly all of the mothers knew about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and 93.6% had good attitude towards it. Only 44.4% of the respondents knew that antiretroviral drugs given for seropositive pregnant mothers could reduce the risk of HIV transmission. All the of mothers have been tested for HIV/ AIDS. Much has better to be done to maintain mothers knowledge, attitude and of all to promote the use of ART and other PMTCT of HIV methods through organized intervention programs as well as by ensuring the supply of the ART medications used for PMTCT of HIV beside the treatment of established infection.
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