Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: investigating the uptake and utilization of maternal and child health services in Tiko health district, Cameroon

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.

Assessment of Male Partner’s Involvement in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Associated Factors Among Males in PMTCT Services

“…The remaining seven studies (37. 1%) explored the views of participants on the factors that encourage, inconvenience or inhibit them in accompanying their wives to the ANC clinic (23), pointed out the role of male partner involvement on mother's adherence to PMTCT care (24), evaluated knowledge, attitude, communication behaviors among partners, awareness, and how they affect the uptake of the PMTCT services (25), investigated factors that affect access to and utilization of maternal and child health (MCH) and PMTCT services among women (26), hypothesized that male partner HIV-1 counseling and testing during pregnancy 33), partner involvement and the uptake of prevention of PMTCT of HIV (PMTCT) interventions (35), and both explored and described male partner involvement in PMTCT services (39) respectively. The majority of reviewed articles 7 (36.…”

“…Five of the developing countries (26. 3%) were conducted in Ethiopia (24,26,16,19), Two in South Africa (36,41), Sub-Saharan Africa (22,28), Zambia (23,29), Tanzania (25,34), and Uganda (30,40). The rest of the countries had one study in each : Malawi (31), Kenya (26), and Cameroon (33).…”

Estratégias De Cuidado À Saúde De Gestantes Vivendo Com Hiv: Revisão Integrativa

“…A requisição do teste sorológico para o HIV representa uma oportunidade de diagnóstico precoce do HIV (31). As elevadas taxas testagem identificadas na Nigéria, Canadá e Camarões (16)(17)32), convergem com os achados na China, na qual a oferta do teste anti-HIV no pré-natal foi associada ao conhecimento prévio quanto aos riscos da TV, evidenciando a relevância das informações ofertadas no aconselhamento. Neste estudo, as mulheres mostraram-se 6,8 e 6,9 vezes mais dispostas a receber a testagem (15).…”

“…A inclusão do companheiro no cuidado pré-natal foi identificada em estudos no Cambodja, Estados Unidos e Camarões, na qual se mostrou positivamente associada com a participação das gestantes no pré-natal (32), facilitando a disponibilização da TARV em regiões rurais e a adesão aos cuidados de prevenção da TV do HIV (32,(53)(54). A utilização de cartas convite como intervenção para estimular a participação masculina nos cuidados pré-natais (59), resultou em uma maior participação dos homens nos serviços de saúde (30%) e, com isso, propiciou o aconselhamento pré e pós-teste ao casal (55)(56).…”

Factors that Affects Male Partner Involvement in PMTCT Services in Africa: A Review Literature

“…Not only a proportion of women receiving antiretroviral prophylaxis in PMTCT program are small, but also adherence among the users is poor. The utilization and adherence of PMTCT services by the pregnant women may be influenced both by factors related to health system and individual factors (3).Despite the availability of a dual therapy treatment protocol and infant feeding guidelines designed to prevent mother-to-child transmission(PMTCT) of HIV, of the over 1 million babies born in South Africa each year ,only 70% of those born to HIV positive mothers received dual therapy (4).The intervention 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 (5).Antenatal care(ANC) is a major entry point for PMTCT programs especially in countries with a high prevalence of HIV .The World Health Organization(WHO) recommends four ANC visits during pregnancy ,which allows for early diagnosis, prevention or treatment of conditions which may jeopardize the health of the mother or her unborn baby (6,7).Male partner participation is a crucial component to optimize antenatal care/prevention of mother-to-child-transmission/PMTCT services. It creates an opportunity to capture pregnant mothers and their male partners to reverse the transmission of HIV during pregnancy, labour, and breast feeding (8).Mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) accounts for over 95% of all pediatric HIV infections worldwide.…”