Mothers' knowledge and utilization of prevention of mother to child transmission services in northern Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundMore than 90% of children living with HIV have been infected through mother to child transmission. The aims of our present study were to: (1) assess the utilization of the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services in five reproductive and child health clinics in Moshi, northern Tanzania, after the implementation of routine counselling and testing; (2) explore the level of knowledge the postnatal mothers had about PMTCT; and (3) assess the quality of the counselling given.MethodsThis study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in rural and urban areas of Moshi in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Mixed methods were used. We interviewed 446 mothers when they brought their four-week-old infants to five reproductive and child health clinics for immunization. On average, the urban clinics included in the study had implemented the programme two years earlier than the rural clinics. We also conducted 13 in-depth interviews with mothers and nurses, four focus group discussions with mothers, and four observations of mothers receiving counselling.ResultsNearly all mothers (98%) were offered HIV testing, and all who were offered accepted. However, the counselling was hasty with little time for clarifications. Mothers attending urban antenatal clinics tended to be more knowledgeable about PMTCT than the rural attendees. Compared with previous studies in the area, our study found that PMTCT knowledge had increased and the counsellors had greater confidence in their counselling.ConclusionsRoutine counselling and testing for HIV at the antenatal clinics was greatly accepted and included practically every mother in this time period. However, the counselling was suboptimal due to time and resource constraints. We interpret the higher level of PMTCT knowledge among the urban as opposed to the rural attendees as a result of differences in the start up of the PMTCT programme and, thus, programme maturation. After comparison with earlier studies conducted in this setting, we conclude that when the programme has had time to get established, both its acceptance and the understanding of the topics dealt with during the counselling increases.

Knowledge, attitude, and perception of HIV / AIDS among married women

“…In a study done by Narayani B et al showed higher socioeconomic status, literacy and parity of pregnant women were significantly associated with the increase in awareness towards HIV/AIDS [11].Study conducted by Falnes EF et al at Tanzania showed 92.5% of the respondents had heard about PMTCT whereas in our study only 46% are aware of the program [12].…”

Listening to health workers: lessons from Eastern Uganda for strengthening the programme for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

“…Another study conducted at 10 clinics in central Uganda also highlighted lack of adequate space for counselling, frequent stock-out of supplies and shortage of counsellors as some of the health system barriers affecting implementation of provider-initiated HIV counselling and testing in Uganda [23]. Similar challenges have been documented in Tanzania [35,36]. These findings point at the urgent need to strengthen the health systems as part of the social context within which the PMTCT programme operates for better results.…”

Construção e Validação de cartilha para prevenção da transmissão vertical do HIV

“…(1,2) In addition to the high efficacy of prophylaxis for VT reduction, studies indicate several factors that make it more difficult: late diagnosis of infection during pregnancy; failure to provide counseling and guidance to every woman during prenatal care; the quality of care that remains below what is desired; lack of knowledge of the professionals; as well as lack of knowledge on the part of pregnant women regarding preventive measures. (3)(4)(5)(6) Lack of participatory and dialogic educational activities directed toward HIV positive pregnant women and mothers, by health professionals, associated with their lack of knowledge about HIV, negatively affect the vulnerability of the mother-child binomial. However, studies show that health education is an effective means for the prophylaxis of VT. (6) Thus, when using a technology during nurses' educational practices in this area, a broad search was required to be made in the specialized databases, yet no publications related to the development or use of printed educational material, such as booklets, aiming at prevention of HIV-VT was found.…”