title: 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: BACKGROUND
  Despite 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  We 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 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.
authors.affiliation: Global Health Systems Solutions (GHSS), SONARA Road, Limbe, Cameroon.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Awungafac
authors.affiliation: Global Health Systems Solutions (GHSS), SONARA Road, Limbe, Cameroon ; University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Patrick Achiangia
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Njukeng
authors.affiliation: Global Health Systems Solutions (GHSS), SONARA Road, Limbe, Cameroon ; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Juliana Ajoache
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ndasi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Lawrence Tanyi
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Mbuagbaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: Antenatal care; Cameroon; MCH; PMTCT