KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN ILORIN TOWARDS PREVENTION OF MOTHER -TO -CHILD -TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS CAMPAIGN

Abstract

The study investigated the awareness of pregnant women who are presently attending antenatal careon the mother-to-child-transmission of HIV/AIDS in Ilorin metropolis, using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) method to generate its data from the purposely-sampled pregnant women. The study adopted the theory of planned behaviorfocusing a cohort ofpregnant women attending public andprivate antenatal care facilities for thefirst time in their current pregnancy. Specifically, the study set out to explain intendedand actual HIV testing, using theextended version of the TPB framework. The research sample size was purposively selected. Three groups were organized in three different obstetrics hospital and each group comprising of seven pregnant women as participants while 25 structured focus group questions were used as a guide to collect the data for the study. The ivory software program was usedto analyze the data generated. The study found that 19 (90%) of the respondents were aware of the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child while 9 (38%) got to know of HIV/AIDS through their school systemjust as 9 (38%) wereaware of the need for HIV test during pregnancy at school. The study revealed that 6 (28%) rated the campaign on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS high while 13 (61%) had no rating at all. Also, 7 (33%) rated the awareness of pregnant women about the campaign on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS high, while 13 (61%) had no rating at all. The study concluded that the depth of knowledge of the participants on the subject did not allow for deeper insight and adequate response on the issues raised, suggesting that awareness of the pregnant women on PMTCT was low. It therefore, recommended that media campaign on mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS be intensified to boost awareness of pregnant women about its spread.