Abstract
IntroductionDespite evidence that interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV are effective in ensuring a healthy child and keeping mothers alive, there are many challenges to achieving successful interventions in Cameroon. The study was conducted to investigate factors that affect access to and utilization of maternal and child health (MCH) and PMTCT services among women in Tiko health district in Cameroon.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study on women of reproductive age who had experienced a pregnancy using a self-administered, structured questionnaire, in health facilities offering PMTCT services and in communities within the district.ResultsFour hundred and thirteen women were interviewed. The majority, 98.4%, of them attended antenatal care (ANC) during their most recent pregnancy. Of these women, 87.4% of them made at least four ANC visits. HIV testing during the first visit among the ANC attendees was 85.5%. Approximately, 92.1% of women who tested for HIV received their results on the same day. All participants reported to have given birth in a health facility during their most recent pregnancy. No education (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.11; 95% CI 0.01-0.83) and acquisition of primary education (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.06-0.88) was associated with better male partner involvement in PMTCT.ConclusionThe uptake of MCH/PMTCT services was high in this study. Further exploration of these levels is warranted so that this model of care and engagement can be replicated in other parts of the country where uptake is low.
Highlights
Approximately 289,000 maternal deaths occurred in 2013 [1]
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were associated with 1.8 million deaths including 250,000 among children less than 15 years in 2010 [4].In Cameroon, AIDS-related diseases were associated with 980 maternal deaths in 2010 the same year, 5% of under-5 mortality was linked to HIV/AIDS [5]
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends four antenatal care (ANC) visits during pregnancy [10], which allows for early diagnosis, prevention or treatment of conditions which may jeopardize the health of the mother or her unborn baby
Summary
Approximately 289,000 maternal deaths occurred in 2013 [1]. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 98% of maternal deaths in Africa [2]. In 2010, 64% of the 7.6 million deaths among children less than 5 years were attributable to infectious disease etiologies. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were associated with 1.8 million deaths including 250,000 among children less than 15 years in 2010 [4].In Cameroon, AIDS-related diseases were associated with 980 maternal deaths in 2010 the same year, 5% of under-5 mortality was linked to HIV/AIDS [5]. Maternal and child health outcomes have been shown to be linked to the quality of antenatal care (ANC), delivery services and post-natal care [2,6,7,8]. Prevention of mother-to child HIV transmission (PMTCT) strategies introduced in 2001, [9] have become integrated into all maternal and child health services. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends four ANC visits during pregnancy [10], which allows for early diagnosis, prevention or treatment of conditions which may jeopardize the health of the mother or her unborn baby
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