Magnitude and associated factors affecting prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) amongst pregnant mothers in wolkite specialized teaching hospita

Abstract

Background- Mother to child HIV transmission remains a major global health challenge, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, over 100,000 pregnant women have HIV yet data on magnitude and associated factors affecting PMTCT are scarce This study aims to determine the magnitude of PMTCT and associated factors in pregnant, lactating and postpartum mothers attending ANC at Wolkite University specialized hospital. Objective- To assess magnitude and associated factors affecting PMTCT in pregnant mothers who have ANC follow up at Wolkite university specialized hospital 2023 E.C. Methodology- Data were collected using pretested, structured questionnaire. The serostatus of those involved in VCT was taken from the card and VCT code. Prior to data collection individual consents were obtained after thorough explanation of the purpose and benefits of the study to the attendants. Data was cleaned, edited and entered into a computer and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 23.0. Statistical tests were employed whenever applicable at the level of significance of 0.05. Results- A total of 158 ANC attendants were involved in the study and all were enrolled for VCT service. With regards to the magnitude of PMTCT 2 of the 3 HIV positive mothers had good PMTCT practice and were in the age group of 26-39 years and all were married and the difference were not statistically significant and were Muslim in religion and Gurage in ethnicity and the difference were not statistically significant. The magnitude of PMTCT with occupation of the mother and occupation of the partner showed that it was higher among mothers whose occupation were government employee AOR 1.33 (95% 1.13, 1.56) and occupation of the partner were also government employee 1.23 (1.03, 1.45) respectively and the difference were statistically significant (p<0.05). The magnitude of PMTCT with educational status and educational status of the partner showed that it was higher among College/University educated mothers and also those with College/University educated partners with AOR of 2.41 (95% 2.04, 2.84) and AOR of 1.18 (95% 0.97, 1.39) respectively and the difference were statistically significant (p<0.05). Fear of stigma/discrimination, mode of transportation, cultural or societal beliefs were affecting the practice of PMTCT with AOR of 4.24 (3.67, 4.89), 2.66 (2.25, 3.15), 1.84 (1.51, 2.22) respectivel