Assessment of knowledge, attitude, practice and factors associated with prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS among pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic in Hawassa University Referral hospital, So

International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs, & STIs

October 24-25, 2013 Holiday Inn Orlando International Airport, Orlando, FL, USA

Amanuel Alemu Abajobir

Accepted Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

M other-to-child transmission of HIV infection is the transmission of the virus from an HIV-infected mother to her child during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding. Better knowledge of, good attitude towards and practicing prevention of mother-to-child transmission is highly effective intervention and has an enormous potential to improve both maternal and child health. Hence, this study tried to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and factors associated with prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS among pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care clinic at Hawassa University Referral Hospital in 2012. The study employed a quantitative survey. 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. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were done. More than four-fifth (82.3%) mothers knew about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and 97.4% had good attitude towards it. Only about half (48.3%) of the respondents knew that antiretroviral drugs given for sero-positive pregnant mothers could reduce the risk of transmission. Women with above secondary (AOR=1.05, 95%CI (1.20, 2.34)) education were more likely to know about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. Urbanite mothers were more knowledgeable than their rural counter parts (AOR=2.63, 95%CI (2.5, 5.31)). The odds of knowledge on prevention of mother-to-child transmission was about 3 times higher among multipara (AOR=2.64, 95%CI (2.02, 5.38)). It was also higher among women having their antenatal follow up for the current pregnancy (AOR=6.2, 95%CI (1.15, 9.44)). About 96% of mothers have been tested for HIV and the rest did not test due mainly to fear of stigma, discrimination and lack of confidentiality. Urban residents were more likely to be screened for the virus than their rural counter parts (AOR=2.90, 95%CI (1.01, 4.61)). Health Center delivery (AOR=1.2, 95%CI (1.73, 3.25)) and antenatal care visit of four and above for the current pregnancy (AOR=1.04, 95% CI (1.01, 2.49)) found to have statistically significant association. Women?s empowerment through education, improving antenatal care services and male involvement were significant predictors of knowledge, attitude and uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission services and should be promoted through community mobilization.

Biography :

Amanuel Alemu Abajobir has completed his MPH (in Reproductive and Family Health) at the age of 26 years from Addis Ababa School of Public Health. He is Lecturer and researcher in Debremarkos University College of Medicine and Health Sciences. He has published about 10 papers in reputed journals and 6 proceedings on national and international research conferences.