Abstract
This study examined knowledge and awareness regarding HIV and AIDS among pregnant women in Butwal, Nepal. Pregnant women were selected using a systematic random sampling method from the antenatal care registry at every 5th and 10th interval. Although 80% of women mentioned unprotected sexual contact as the major route of HIV transmission, only 36.7% women knew that HIV can be transmitted from the infected mothers to their babies. Approximately half of the women (53.0%) mentioned foreign employees as a vulnerable group for HIV infection, followed by multiple sexual partners (41.0%), intravenous drug users (40.0%), commercial sex workers (35.0%), and labor migrants (25.0%). Although 71.7% women knew that proper use of a condom could easily prevent HIV transmission, few women knew other preventive ways (such as use of disposable syringes). Implementation of effective health education programs on HIV infection is needed for pregnant women in the study area. Key words: Education, awareness, HIV and AIDS, pregnant women.
Highlights
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which has a high rate of case fatality and lacks curative treatment, is one of the most serious global public health challenges
Pregnant women were asked about their knowledge and awareness of HIV and AIDS during pregnancy with the help of female health professionals working in the same clinic
Our study found few women who knew that HIV and AIDS could be transmitted from infected mothers to babies
Summary
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which has a high rate of case fatality and lacks curative treatment, is one of the most serious global public health challenges. According to UNAIDS factsheet, in 2018 there were 37.9 million people living with HIV infection (36.2 million adults and 1.7 million children) worldwide. In the case of women, approximately 6000 young women age between 15 and 24 years of age became infected with HIV every week. Young women aged 15-24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV infection compared to men at the same age group (Global Factsheet HIV/AIDS, 2019). Women are in high risk group to acquire HIV infection; they have the unique role of transferring the infection to child
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