Awareness and knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the awareness and knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and its prevention among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of a federal medical center in Nigeria.


METHODS
Valid and reliable questionnaires were interviewer administered to pregnant women at antenatal booking during the study period, prior to being counseled on HIV/AIDS.


RESULTS
All respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS. The main sources of information included posters/billboards (37%), radio (36%), television (28%) and health workers (34%). The majority (90%) of the respondents were aware that HIV/AIDS can coexist with pregnancy, but only 68% were aware of mother-to-child transmission. Transplacental route, vaginal delivery and breastfeeding were identified as routes of transmission from mother to child by 65%, 38% and 52% of respondents, respectively. Caesarean section was believed to be a route of transmission by 43% of respondents, but only 3% identified caesarean section as a method of prevention of mother-to-child transmission.


CONCLUSIONS
Though the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS among women attending our antenatal clinic is high, the level of knowledge about mother-to-child transmission is inadequate. There is a need for adequate counseling and education about HIV/AIDS and mother-to-child transmission in antenatal clinics and also through public campaign media.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Federal Medical Center, Ldo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. omoniyimoses2004@yahoo.co.uk
Moses O
MO
Abiodun
Munir'deen A
MA
Ijaiya
Peter A
PA
Aboyeji
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D009549:Nigeria; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000523:psychology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires