Knowledge Of Hiv Among Pregnant Women
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Knowledge Of Hiv Among Pregnant Women
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) is estimated to cause more than 700,000 new HIV infections in children worldwide each year. In a single day, over 1800 newborns globally catch HIV from their mothers, with many of these cases occurring in Africa. The risk of infection from untreated moms is higher in Africa (25% – 52%) than in the United States (US) or Europe (12%-30%).
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is more easily transmitted during unprotected anal intercourse (penis in anus) than through other sexual practices. It is also more likely to spread to the receptive partner than the insertive partner during both vaginal (8/10,000 exposures) and anal (138/10,000 exposures) intercourse.
Women are more vulnerable to HIV transmission because they are more frequently receptive partners, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria currently accounts for around 10% of all HIV/AIDS cases globally.
Women account for 57% of all HIV-infected adults in Nigeria, which is higher than the global rate of 48%. Sixty percent of new infections occur in the 15-25 age group, although the frequency is highest among productive young people aged 20 to 29 years. Heterosexual transmission causes 80% of all infections. The pandemic is devastating women’s reproductive health in Nigeria.
In recent years, the number of HIV-positive mothers has increased, as has the number of HIV-positive children, raising concerns. In 2007, around 370,000 children under the age of 15 contracted HIV, primarily through mother-to-child transmission.
Approximately 90% of all MTCT infections occurred in Africa, where AIDS is beginning to undo decades of steady gains in infant survival. MTCT has been nearly eliminated in high-income nations worldwide as a result of effective voluntary testing and counselling, access to antiretroviral therapy, safe delivery procedures, and the widespread availability and safe use of breast milk substitutes.
If these therapies were implemented globally, they could save the lives of thousands of children each year. As a result, there is an urgent need to combat this threat.
In October 2003, the “Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV” service began at Kano’s Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Following its identification as a service centre for the mother-to-child transmission prevention program, a committee was formed to oversee the program, which included paediatricians, obstetricians, nurses, chemists, public health physicians, and counsellors.
It is therefore important to determine the knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS and mother-to-child transmission among women who visit the paediatric HIV clinic.
The information acquired will be used to counsel and educate patients and the community about HIV/AIDS. This would significantly reduce HIV/AIDS transmission from mother to kid.
According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, only 24.3% of pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics (44.4% urban and 16.2% rural) had received HIV counselling; 79.2% of women and 82.5% of men had never been tested for HIV; and 46% of women, compared to 56.4% of men, were aware that mother-to-child transmission was possible.
Furthermore, 60% of pregnant women (83% of urban and 51% of rural women surveyed) used antenatal care services, with 2.5% seeing traditional birth attendants (TBA).
However, just 32.6% (54.2% urban and 23.8% rural) had their kids delivered in a hospital, while 66.4% had them delivered at home (National Population Commission & ORC Marco, 2004).
Antenatal VCT is one of several strategies used to lower MTCT. In a survey of health and laboratory facilities in all six zones of Nigeria, data collected and analysed regarding an individual’s reason for HIV testing at the surveyed laboratory facilities revealed that only 16.3% of those surveyed had used voluntary testing services (Idigbe, Ibrahim, Ubane, Onwujekwe, Esan, Otoh, & Ade-doyin, 2000).
However, accurate data on the acceptability of HIV testing among pregnant women in Nigeria are limited, but given the trend of rising HIV infection among pregnant women (National AIDS/STDs Control Programme, 1999) and the country’s promotion of exclusive breastfeeding (Esan, 1997), one would expect a high incidence of mother-to-child HIV transmission.
Nonetheless, the success of antenatal VCT is contingent on women’s and communities’ understanding and views about HIV. Despite rising HIV prevalence among Nigerian women attending prenatal clinics (National AIDS/STDs Control Programme, 2002), little is known regarding their knowledge and perceptions about HIV.
Such data is critical for understanding and predicting the likelihood that pregnant women will accept and seek VCT, which would help to prevent MTCT by increasing acceptability and demand for confidential antenatal HIV testing, and thus preparing for the country’s scale-up of Nevirapine therapy.
Knowledge of this is critical if serious progress is to be made by 2010 to meet the internationally agreed-upon global goal (declared by governments during the United Nations General Assembly Special Session [UNGASS] on HIV/AIDS in June 2001) of reducing infant and child mortality by at least one-third during the decade 2001-2010, and by two-thirds by 2015.
These goals are to be achieved by reducing the proportion of the infant population infected with HIV by 2% by 2005 and by 50% by 2010, by ensuring that 80% of pregnant women accessing antenatal care have information, counselling, and other HIV-prevention services available to them;
increasing the availability and access to treatment to reduce MTCT; effective interventions for HIV-positive women, including VCT; access to treatment using antiretroviral therapy, and, where applicable
This is critical given the overarching goal of Nigeria’s national strategy on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which is to reduce HIV prevalence to less than 1% of the population by 2010 (National AIDS/STDs Control Programme, 2002).
Given this, it is critical to explore pregnant women’s HIV knowledge and beliefs, particularly regarding transmission to infants after birth or breastfeeding (Berer, 1999).
Because the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) program with Nevirapine therapy for HIV-positive pregnant women has begun in selected health institutions across the country (National AIDS/STDs Control Program, 2002), data on pregnant women’s grassroots knowledge can be used to inform planning, policy development, advocacy, and counselling plans.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Despite advancements in PMTCT interventions over the years, MTCT of HIV infections remains prevalent, particularly in Nigeria. Despite rising HIV prevalence among Nigerian women attending prenatal clinics (National AIDS/STDs Control Programme, 2002), little is known regarding their knowledge and perceptions about HIV.
Such data is critical for understanding and predicting the likelihood that pregnant women will accept and seek VCT, which would help to prevent MTCT by increasing acceptability and demand for confidential antenatal HIV testing, and thus preparing for the country’s scale-up of Nevirapine therapy.
Knowledge of this is critical if serious progress is to be made by 2010 to meet the internationally agreed-upon global goal (declared by governments during the United Nations General Assembly Special Session [UNGASS] on HIV/AIDS in June 2001) of reducing infant and child mortality by at least one-third during the decade 2001-2010, and by two-thirds by 2015.
The researchers seek to examine HIV knowledge among pregnant women in Borno State. Knowledge of PMTCT interventions is vital so that pregnant women are aware and motivated to have a positive attitude towards PMTCT.
1.3 GOALS OF THE STUDY
The overall goal of this study is to look into the knowledge about HIV among pregnant women in Borno State. However, the precise objectives of this study are:
i) To investigate pregnant women’s attitude towards antiretroviral medications in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
ii) Examine the role of hospitals in the utilisation of PMTCT services.
iii) To examine pregnant women’s understanding about preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services.
iv) To better understand pregnant women’s attitudes towards prevention methods as a factor in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (HIV/AIDS) to their unborn children.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. To what extent has the society attempted to educate pregnant women about HIV/AIDS?
2. Do pregnant women’s understanding of HIV/AIDS differ depending on their economic level and educational background?
3. Are married males responsible for HIV/AIDS among pregnant women?
1.4 Research Hypotheses
H0: There is no association between HIV/AIDS awareness and illness prevention among pregnant women in Borno state.
H1: There is a link between HIV/AIDS awareness and illness prevention among pregnant women in Borno State.
H0: Pregnant women’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS is not determined by their economic status or educational background.
H2: The economic position and educational background of pregnant women influence their understanding of HIV/AIDS.
1.5 Significance of the Study
Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have continued to be serious concerns not only for the Borno State Government, but also for the Federal Government and the rest of the world. Specifically, the study will help pregnant women follow suggested actions and advice in the fight against HIV transmission from mother to child.
To doctors and midwives for providing required care and counselling to pregnant mothers during antenatal and prenatal check-ups. To women in general, in terms of public education, on the importance of adhering to doctor’s orders for sufficient medicine throughout pregnancy.
This study will also be a pioneering endeavour to better understand HIV/AIDS among prenatal attendees at Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in Borno State. The findings of this study may help policymakers, particularly educational planners in Borno State, build more appropriate HIV/AIDS teaching programs. Finally, the conclusions of this study will serve as a reference point for scholars who choose to pursue a project of this sort.
1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study focusses on the understanding of HIV among pregnant women in Borno State, specifically prenatal attendants at Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. During the study, the researcher faces several obstacles that limit the scope of the study.
Time: The researcher’s allotted time for the study was a significant limitation because the researcher had to balance other academic commitments with the study.
Finance: The researcher’s financial resources during the study were insufficient to allow for wider coverage because the researcher had other academic bills to pay.
Availability of research materials: At the time of this investigation, the researcher had insufficient research materials, which limited the study.
1.7 Definition of Terms
Pregnancy, often known as gestation, is the period in which one or more babies grows inside a woman. A multiple pregnancy produces more than one child, such as twins. Pregnancy can result from sexual intercourse or assisted reproductive technology. Childbirth normally happens at 40 weeks after the previous menstrual period (LMP).
HIV is a member of the Lentivirus genus, which belongs to the Retroviridae family. Many lentiviruses share similar morphologies and biological features. Many species are afflicted with lentiviruses, which are typically responsible for long-term diseases with a lengthy incubation period. Lentiviruses are enclosed, single-stranded RNA viruses with a positive sense.
Knowledge is a knowledge, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills, gained by experience or education through perception, discovery, or study.
PMTCT: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs give HIV-positive pregnant women antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent their infants from contracting the infection.
MTCT is an acronym for mother-to-child transmission.
1.8 Organisation of the Study
This research is organised into five chapters for ease of understanding, as shown below. The first chapter is concerned with the introduction, which includes the background of the study, statement of the problem, aims of the investigation, research questions, research hypotheses, importance of the study, scope of the study, and so on.
The second chapter, which is a survey of the associated literature, offers the theoretical framework, conceptual framework, and other areas relevant to the issue. The third chapter is about research technique, which discusses the research design and methodologies used in the study.
Chapter four focusses on data gathering, analysis, and presenting of findings. Chapter five presents the study’s summary, conclusion, and recommendations.
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