ASSESMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN WORABE HOSPITAL

Abstract

BACKROUND: Human Immune-deficiency Virus or Acquired Human Immune- Deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is currently a major public health problem in Ethiopia and Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) is by far the largest source of HIV infection in children below the age of 15 years. Moreover, there are nearly 1800 and 1400 children are new HIV infected and die per day in the world respectively. About 90% of those are occurring in developing countries. Hence, this study tried to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice with prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV AIDS among pregnant mothers. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards prevention of MTCT among pregnant women who visit Worabe Comprehensive Specialized hospital. METHOD: Institution based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) towards Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV among pregnant women who visit Worabe hospital from Jul, 2021 to September, 2021. A systematic random sampling technique and a semi structured, pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS software (version 25) and finally presented with table and graphs. ii RESULT: The study assessed the knowledge on PMTCT of HIV/AIDS of the pregnant mothers attending the ANC follow up at Worabe Comprehensive Specialized hospital. There was 100% respond rate. Among the respondents, three hundred twelve (80.3%) informed about PMTCT of HIV all of the respondents heard about HIV/AIDS. Among these, 90.1% of the pregnant mothers knew about transmission of HIV from infected mother to her child and among the study subjects, three hundred (77.4%) had positive attitude toward PMTCT of HIV. Only about half of the respondents new that ART given for sero positive pregnant woman could reduce the risk of transmission. Most of the respondents were tested for HIV and 70.5% of pregnant woman were encouraged breast feeding of HIV positive woman. Among the study subjects two hundred ninety four (75.7%) practiced good. CONCLUSSION: Most of the respondents knew that mother-to-child transmission of HIV during pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding. And majority of them have good attitude towards it. Only about half of the respondents knew that antiretroviral drugs given for sero positive pregnant mothers could reduce the risk of HIV transmission. All most all of mothers have been tested for HIV/AIDS. All of the respondents agree with the term HIV positive pregnant woman must be delivered with skilled person.