Impact of pre-conception knowledge of positive hiv status on uptake of pmtct interventions and infant hiv free survival
Abstract
Background
Majority of HIV positive women in Kenya learn of their HIV status when they are tested at
Ante-natal clinics. Knowledge of positive status prior to pregnancy allows utilization of
interventions such as preconception anti-retroviral drugs to minimize risk of mother-to-child
transmission of HIV. It is unclear to what extent women who know they are HIV infected
seek and utilize interventions that reduce risk of vertical HIV transmission. The aim of this
study is to determine the impact of pre-conception knowledge of positive HIV status on
uptake of Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission interventions and infant HIV free
survival at Naivasha District Hospital.
Methodology
This will be a retrospective cohort study targeting mother-infant pairs presenting at Naivasha
District Hospital Maternal and Child Health Clinic and the Comprehensive Care Clinic for
HIV care. A questionnaire will be administered to collect data on socio-demographics
characteristics, timing of knowledge of maternal HIV status, uptake of PMTCT interventions
and infant HIV status. Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazard models and
multivariate analysis will be utilized to assess the relationship between pre-conception
knowledge of HIV and uptake of PMTCT interventions and infant HIV free survival.
Significance:
This study will provide useful data to health care workers and policy makers on utility of
preconception care on efforts towards elimination of paediatric HIV in the country
Citation
Post-graduate diploma in bio-medical research methodologyPublisher
University of Nairobi