| dc.description.abstract | Background: Infants and young children less than 15 years account for 16% of all new HIV infections mainly as a result ofMTCT. Most children acquire HIV infection through mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or breastfeeding. In the absence of intervention, an estimated 20%-45% of babies born to HIV -infected mothers will acquire HIV infection itom their mothers. The Kenyan Government had set a target to increase coverage ofPMTCT services to reach 80% of pregnant women by the end of2008 and reduce pediatric HIV infections by 50%. Early infant diagnosis of HI V is significant because it can help HIV-infected infants' . access treatment, provide reassurance for families of uninfected infants, and help PMTCT programs monitor their effectiveness. Therefore, adherence to postnatal PMTCT follow up provides the opportunity for the infants to be tested for HIV and intervention to prevent transmission or treatment implemented immediately.
Objective: To assess the determinants of adherence to postnatal PMTCT program in KNH.
Method: A cross-sectional study design was used and it was conducted through consecutive enrolment of eligible HIV positive mothers in KNH. Data collection was conducted using structured questionnaires. Analysis of the data was done using SPSS version 17.0 and the findings presented using tables and graphs. Focus group discussions were conducted and the data analyzed qualitatively.
Results: Two hundred (200) mothers with a mean age of 28 years were interviewed at antenatal stage, during labour and after delivery. All the mothers were educated with at least primary level of education and 75% were married. Utilization antenatal care services was reported by 96.9%, all mothers had received HIV counseling and testing and 74.2% had disclosed their HIV status to their partners. Majority (95%) had heard of PMTCT services and the main sources of information were electronic media (95%) and health worker (92.5%). In addition, 95% of the mothers knew that PMTCT prevents HIV transmission to the baby and their main motivation for seeking HIV tests for their infants was their desire to have a HIV negative baby.
Conclusions: There was high level of awareness among HIV positive mothers on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIY. However, the knowledge is mainly on the need to receive HIV test when pregnant but fewer mothers knew that they need to receive ARV drug interventions together with their babies. Mothers were positively motivated to seek infant HIV tests for their babies because it was the only way they can confirm the success PMTCT interventions. | en_US |
