title: Prevention and care of paediatric HIV infection in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: knowledge, attitudes and practices of the caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The paediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic still progresses because of operational challenges in implementing prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMCT) programs. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of children's caregivers regarding mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, paediatric HIV infection, early infant diagnosis (EID), and paediatric antiretroviral treatment in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a qualitative survey in the four public hospitals managing HIV exposed or infected children, in Ouagadougou in 2011. A sociologist used a semi-structured questionnaire to interview caregivers of children less than 5 years old attending the paediatrics wards on their KAP. Study participants were divided into four groups as follows: those who did not yet know their children's HIV infection status, those who were waiting for their children's HIV test results, those who were waiting for antiretroviral treatment, and those who were already on antiretroviral treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 37 caregivers were interviewed. The mean age was 32.5 years, and 29 (78 %) were mothers. Twenty seven (73 %) caregivers had primary or higher level of education, and 15 (40 %) described their occupation as "housewife". Overall, 36 (97 %) of caregivers knew that the main route of HIV transmission for infants was through MTCT and 14 (38 %) specified that it occurred during pregnancy or delivery. Five percent thought that MTCT of HIV occurred during conception. PMTCT interventions could help prevent infant HIV infection according to 32 (87 %) caregivers. Thirty five percent of caregivers stated EID as a prevention strategy. Fifty-four percent of the participants believed that replacement feeding option would prevent MTCT of HIV; 24 (65 %) stated that they would prefer medical practitioners seek caregivers' consent before carrying out any HIV-test for their child, and that caregivers' consent was not compulsory before antiretroviral treatment. All caregivers thought that it was necessary to treat HIV-infected children, although they did not know what interventions could be done.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted the low level of caregivers' knowledge on paediatric HIV prevention and care in Ouagadougou. Awareness programs targeting caregivers need to be strengthened in order to improve the uptake of HIV early infant diagnosis and care.
authors.affiliation: Projet MONOD, ANRS 12206, Centre de Recherche Internationale pour la Santé, 09 BP 168, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. coulmalik@yahoo.fr.|Inserm U1219, Institut de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie et Développement, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. coulmalik@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Malik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.affiliation: Projet MONOD, ANRS 12206, Centre de Recherche Internationale pour la Santé, 09 BP 168, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thio
authors.affiliation: CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo, Service de Pédiatrie, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yonaba
authors.affiliation: CHU Charles De Gaules, Service de Pédiatrie médicale, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouédraogo
authors.affiliation: Projet MONOD, ANRS 12206, Centre de Recherche Internationale pour la Santé, 09 BP 168, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.|Centre Muraz, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meda
authors.affiliation: CHU Charles De Gaules, Service de Pédiatrie médicale, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Fla
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kouéta
authors.affiliation: Projet MONOD, ANRS 12206, Centre de Recherche Internationale pour la Santé, 09 BP 168, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.|Centre Muraz, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.|Inserm U1219, Institut de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie et Développement, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Désiré Lucien
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dahourou
authors.affiliation: CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo, Service de Pédiatrie, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Angèle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalmogho
authors.affiliation: CHU Charles De Gaules, Service de Pédiatrie médicale, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Mady
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gansonré
authors.affiliation: CHU Charles De Gaules, Service de Pédiatrie médicale, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Diarra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yé
authors.affiliation: CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo, Service de Pédiatrie, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1027 Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Valériane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leroy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002050:Burkina Faso; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents