Abstract
The concerns of children testing positive to HIV virus shortly after birth is alarming in developing countries. The study assessed the level of awareness of women about Mother To Child Transmission. (MTCT) in Nigeria. The study used secondary data from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The National Demographic Health Survey is one of the most comprehensive Nigerian datasets that contains extensive information on the reproductive health of women between ages 15 -49 years and therefore provides a unique opportunity to study the knowledge of women in the reproductive age group in the country. The 2008 Nigerian NDHS survey sample was made up of 33,385 women of reproductive age group from the six geopolitical zones. The data set was obtained from already analyzed results of the NDHS 2008. The results were summarized into tables and charts using Microsoft excel. Most women interviewed for the study were from the north west zone (24%) out of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Twelve percent of the respondents were from the south east zone. Respondents from the south east zone reported highest awareness about the fact that HIV could be transmitted through breastfeeding to the child, (70.1%), while respondents from north west demonstrated least awareness that HIV could be transmitted through breastfeeding to the child. About 51.5% of pregnant women among the respondents reported adequate knowledge that HIV could be transmitted by breastfeeding while 28.6% were aware that the risk of MTCT could be reduced through the use of anti-retroviral drugs and 26.1% were aware that HIV could be transmitted by breastfeeding and the risk of MTCT could be reduced by taking anti-retroviral drugs. Most women do not have adequate awareness of mother to child transmission of HIV in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Highlights
Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) is when an HIVinfected woman passes the virus to her baby. [1] This can occur during pregnancy, labour, delivery and breastfeeding
About 1000 babies are infected with HIV on a regular basis either through pregnancy, during delivery or breastfeeding in the world with a greater percentage from those regions worst hit by the scorch of the disease. [3,4] Globally there are approximately 1.4 million pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS in low and middle income countries
An intervention known as prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTC) of HIV provides drugs, counseling and psychological support to help HIV positive mothers safeguard their unborn babies and infants against the virus. [5,6] The provision of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) to all women is the most effective way to end mother to child transmission but the knowledge about this among women still needs much to be desired
Summary
Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) is when an HIVinfected woman passes the virus to her baby. [1] This can occur during pregnancy, labour, delivery and breastfeeding. [5] Most women who are unaware of their HIV status, will be deficient of the knowledge about mother to child transmission and the possibility of preventing it. An intervention known as prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTC) of HIV provides drugs, counseling and psychological support to help HIV positive mothers safeguard their unborn babies and infants against the virus. [7] This may not be far from the fact that many women may not be aware of the possibility of MTCT during breastfeeding, in pregnancy through the feato-placenta shunt from mother to the unborn baby and during vagina delivery. [7,8] As in most developing countries, vertical transmission from mother to child accounts for most of the HIV infections among Nigerian children. Heterosexual transmission accounts for 80% of all infections. [9,10] In 2009, around 400,000 children aged less than 15 years became infected with HIV. [9,10,11] Almost all of these infections occur in low and middle socio economic countries. [12] Above 90% of cases were as a result of mother to child transmission during pregnancy, labour and delivery or breastfeeding. [9] Without interventions there is 20-45% chance that a baby born to HIV infected mother will become infected. [12,13] This poses serious danger to future generation if no drastic action is taken
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