Maternal and caretaker's knowledge of HIV infections and the existence and benefits of early infant diagnosis (EID) services at Kericho county referral hospital, Kenya.

Abstract

This study was a cross-sectional analytical survey of the Maternal and caretaker's knowledge of HIV infections and the existence and benefits of early infant diagnosis (EID) services at Kericho county referral hospital in Kenya. Data was collected using pretested questionnaires administered to the postnatal HIV positive mothers and or caretakers of HIV exposed children. Data were analysed using SPSS software version 18.0. Moreover, it was presented using Chi-square and Logistic Regression analysis. Of the 254 respondents, 201 (79.1%) were biological mothers to the children; the rest were caretakers. The children were aged between 1 and 18 months, with a mean age of 9.62 months. Most respondents' knowledge of adult HIV infection is about what HIV is, routes of transmission, diagnosis and treatment. Knowledge of paediatric HIV infection was, however, inadequate with only 132 (52%) respondents who knew the approximate rate of HIV transmission from mother to child and 130 (51.2%) who knew about the availability of paediatric Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Both adult and paediatric HIV knowledge was better with an increasing level of education. The younger respondents were also more knowledgeable than, the older ones. Children who had utilised EID were only 75 (29.5%). In conclusion, EID knowledge is still lacking in Kericho County, and it influences the utilisation of these services. EID services and education on the availability should be decentralised where feasible. They should be included as an essential service at all levels of healthcare delivery to reach more children. Further research needs to be done on how to leverage HIV knowledge to increase the uptake of services and alleviate impediments to utilising services. Improving maternal education is strongly recommended, as it would enhance EID uptake.