Knowledge And Attitude On Prevention Of Mother To Child Transmission Of HIV Among Women Of Reproductive Age

Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens an individual’s immune system, exposing them to a variety of opportunistic infections. Although unprotected sexual contact is the primary mechanism of HIV transmission, there is also a large amount of vertical transfer from mother to child. When HIV is transmitted from the mother to the child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, it is known as mother-to-child transmission (MTCT)[1–3]. In poor countries, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has risen dramatically since the 1980s. As a result, it has had a variety of demographic, economic, and social ramifications. More than 2 million children worldwide are infected with HIV/AIDS, with more than 80% of them living in Sub-Saharan African nations. In 2012, for example, 260,000 new pediatric HIV infections were reported, the majority of which occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. Southern and Eastern African countries are the most severely affected areas in Africa. As a result, the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has established a target of 90-90-90 by 2020. By 2030, the goal is to put an end to HIV epidemics. The post-2015 HIV priorities aim to drastically reduce the number of new HIV infections each year, saving the lives of many people in the process.

Vertical transmission of Human Immunodefciency Virus (HIV) during pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding period continues to be a major public health problem and constitutes the most important cause of HIV infection in children less than 15 years old in the world [1]. Over 90% of new infections of human immunodefciency virus in infants and young children occur through mother-to-child transmission[2].
Knowledge of reproductive age women on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV plays a major role in limiting the number of children being infected by HIV. With timely interventions like testing for HIV during pregnancy, safe delivery practices, preventive anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, and modifed infant feeding practices the risk of a baby getting HIV infection from an infected mother can be reduced from 20–45% to 2–5%[4–6]. Therefore maternal knowledge on PMTCT is a corner stone of effective implementation of the four pronged approach to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Studies conducted in African countries showed that there was a low level of knowledge[14–22], attitude[14, 22–24], and practice[16, 25–30] of mothers regarding MTCT and PMTCT services. However, proper implementation of PMTCT services requires adequate knowledge and appropriate attitudes of women toward PMTCT[14]. In the study area, data on knowledge, and attitude toward PMTCT for HIV among pregnant mothers are not completely understood, and little is known about the benefits of PMTCT for HIV. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV among women of reproductive age in the study area.

1.2 Statement of Problem

The percentage of women who could identify all preventive measures of HIV/AIDS by the five modes of HIV/AIDS transmission was high in European countries of Belarus (34.98%) and Ukraine (31.67%) revealing their positive attitudes towards the services[11]. It was attitudes that determine the uptake of PMTCT services observed between developed countries and developing countries as several studies from different parts of the world revealed the uptake of PMTCT services was to be 53 percent in North America, Europe (62%) and South America (63%), while surprisingly, the highest levels of uptake were in Africa with 84 percent and Asia with 84 percent[2, 15, 24, 25] .

In Nigeria, expectant women wished to have healthy babies free from HIV/AIDS. However, it is assumed that Nigerian expectant women do not have good knowledge and right attitudes towards preventive measures of MTCT of HIV/AIDS to achieve their wishes. For example, the findings of[17], in Ilorin and in Oshogbo south western, Nigeria showed that the participants had inadequate knowledge of preventive measures of MTCT of HIV/AIDS and poor attitudes towards PMTCT of HIV services respectively. From these assertions, it also presumed that expectant mothers in Lagos State are not exempted from this pitiable and piteous situation. Hence, the expectant mothers were observed to shy away from any issues related to HIV/AIDS in the clinics. Based on this setting which no studies before now can account for, this study assess the knowledge and attitude on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV among women of reproductive age in Lagos State.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

Generally, this study seek to examine the knowledge and attitude on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV among women of reproductive age in Lagos State.

The study will specifically;

• Assess women knowledge on the mode of HIV transmission from mother to child.
• Assess women knowledge on the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.
• Assess women’s attitude towards the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.

1.4 Research Question

The following research guides this study:

• What are the mode of HIV transmission from mother to child?
• What are the prevention measures of mother to child transmission of HIV?
• What is the attitude of women towards the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

Ho1: Women does not have adequate knowledge on the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.

Ho2: Women does not have positive attitude towards the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.

1.5 Significance of Study

The government, particularly the commissioner of health, will benefit from the study. Health-promoting activities and behavioral change should be encouraged through effective communication channels such as refresher courses, training, and workshops. This would go beyond the influence of focused health education messages on knowledge. In order to ensure progress in knowledge and behavior, further detailed studies on this topic should be conducted in various parts of Nigeria. This study will contribute to the current literature in this field and will also serve as a resource for academics, researchers, and students who may want to do future research on this or a comparable topic.

1.7 Scope of Study

This study is structured to focus on the knowledge and attitude on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV among women of reproductive age. Geographically, the study will carried out in Lagos State.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

The researcher encountered minor obstacles when conducting the study, as with any human endeavor. The significant constraint was the scarcity of literature on the subject due to the nature of the discourse, so the researcher incurred more financial expenses and spent more time sourcing for relevant materials, literature, or information and in the data collection process, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. Furthermore, the researcher did this investigation alongside other academic activities. Furthermore, the sample size was limited because only a few respondents were chosen to answer the research instrument, therefore the results cannot be generalized to other secondary schools outside the state. Despite the constraints encountered during the research, all elements were minimized in order to provide the best results and make the research effective.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Transmission:

The action or process of transmitting something, or the state of being transmitted.

HIV:

HIV (human immuno deficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.

Child Health:

Child health is a state of physical, mental, intellectual, social and emotional well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

1.10 Organization of the Study

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.