Abstract
IntroductionMother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV infection remains a major public health problem and constitutes the most important cause of HIV infection in children. Knowledge of married women on MTCT of HIV is very important for successful intervention toward prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and achieving the goal of eliminating the new HIV infection. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge of married women on MTCT of HIV and associated factors in Mecha district Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community based cross sectional study was conducted involving 520 married women from January 1 to February 30 /2017 in Mecha district. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. The collected data was entered, cleaned and checked using Epi Data version 3.1 and then analyzed with SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was computed for all explanatory variables to identify determinant factors at 95% confidence interval. Explanatory variables having P-value <0.05 taken as a predictor for knowledge of married women on mother to child transmission of HIV.ResultThis study was carried out among a total of 520 married reproductive age group women with a response rate of 98%. From the total of 510 respondents, 160(31.4%) of women were knowledgeable on vertical transmission of HIV (MTCT). Women who were knowledgeable on MTCT of HIV was positively associated with urban residence (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.05–2.92), women who had history of ANC follow up (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.17–6.13), women who were pregnant during the study period (AOR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.10–3.13) and those who had discussions with their husband about HIV/AIDS/ MTCT (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.52-.3.80).Conclusion and recommendationThe finding from this study revealed that knowledge of married women on MTCT of HIV was low. This may contribute to increase the spread of MTCT of HIV. Therefore, giving more attention and emphasis on continuous education regarding MTCT of HIV is highly recommended.
Highlights
Since the beginning of the epidemic, around 75.7 million people have been infected with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) virus and about 35 million people were died
The finding from this study revealed that knowledge of married women on Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV was low
This may contribute to increase the spread of MTCT of HIV
Summary
Since the beginning of the epidemic, around 75.7 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 35 million people were died. 32.7 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2019 [1]. In Ethiopia about 690 000 people were living with HIV in 2018 of whom 23 000 people were newly infected and the prevalence of HIV among women aged 15 to 49 were 1.2% [3]. One of the consequences of HIV infection in married reproductive aged women is vertical transmission of the virus to their children. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV infection leftovers the central public health problem and constitutes the most important cause of HIV infection in children [4]
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