title: Knowledge of Pregnant Women on Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Yaoundé.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a major public health problem in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of pregnant women on HIV transmission and prevention, particularly the four pillars of mother-to-child transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive cross-sectional study from October 2008 to January 2009 at the Yaoundé Gynaecology-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital. All women presenting at the Ante-Natal Care (ANC) Clinic for the first time were included in the study after obtaining a verbal informed consent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ages of the 260 women included in the study ranged from 15 to 42 years. Almost 99% (257/260) of the women interviewed had heard about HIV. Respectively, 80.5% (209/260), 89.3% (232/260) and 81.2% (211/260) of the women cited pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding as risk periods for HIV transmission from mother to child. Use of the male condom, the female condom, abstinence, and faithfulness to a single partner were considered as effective methods of HIV prevention by 73% (190/260), 76% (198/260), 88% (229/260) and 46% (120/260) of respondents respectively. About 79% (64/81) of participants with higher education considered HIV infection to be contagious as opposed to 45.5% (5/11) of women with no formal education (P = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that women have some good knowledge on the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Nevertheless, improving the formal educational level of these women may contribute to a further reduction of HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: FMSB Department of Internal Medicine, University of Yaounde I. Cameroon.
authors.forename: Anne-Cirènecile
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zoung-Kanyi Bissek
authors.forename: Irène Emah
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Yakana
authors.forename: Franscisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monebenimp
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chaby
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Akondeng
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Angwafor
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: Alfred K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Njamnshi
authors.forename: Walinjom F T
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Muna