Assessing The Outcome Of Pmtct Of Hiv Therapy At The Eastern Regional Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

The study assessed the outcome of the PMTCT of HIV therapy at the Eastern Regional Hospital. Specifically, the study sought to; determine the percentage of Retro-exposed babies infected with HIV; assess the health status of the Retro-exposed babies infected with HIV; determine the infant mortality rate of Retro-exposed babies infected with HIV; assess the PMTCT treatment options available and used at Eastern Region Hospital; and assess the demographic characteristics of the mother that may have influenced the outcomes of Retro-exposed babies infected with HIV. This is a descriptive study of HIV positive mothers enrolled on the PMTCT programme at Eastern Regional Hospital. Secondary data on demographic characteristics of the mothers, the treatment options in use and the outcome of the PMTCT programme after birth at Eastern Region Hospital were used. Data was analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations whereas relationship and difference were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, chi-square techniques. Babies were protected from getting infected with HIV through PMTCT treatment while only 15 babies were infected with HIV. More females were infected. Also, aside the 2 babies who died, only few babies have health issues such as neonatal infection and low birth weight but the remaining were healthier. With infant mortality rate, out of the 15 babies who were infected with HIV, only 2 (13.3%) of them died. All the women (165, 100%) on the PMTCT were treated with TDF 300mg +3TC 300mg + EFV 600mg and they all tolerated it. There were differences between age, educational status of women and Retro exposed babies to infection of HIV. However, income of the women had nothing to do with the Retro exposed babies to infection of HIV. PMTCT treatment is key since it is the window through which babies born to women with HIV can be protected from being infected with HIV. Again, there were differences between age, educational status of women and Retro exposed babies to infection of HIV. However, the results of the study indicated that income of the women had nothing to do with the Retro exposed babies to infection of HIV.