Assessment of Antenatal Care Clients’ Willingness for HIV Counseling and Testing in Asella Governmental Health Institutions, Ethiopia.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2012-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background:- It has been well established that mother to child transmission (MTCT) accounts for the majority of HIV infections in children below the age of 15 years in developing countries. HIV counseling and testing (HCT) is an important entry point for HIV prevention and for early access to treatment, care and support. Willingness for accepting HCT is the key component and a
starting point of overall HIV prevention efforts and represents a critical opportunity for stemming the tide of the HIV epidemic.
Objective:- The main objective of this study was to assess the willingness of antenatal care clients for HIV counseling and testing in Asella governmental health institutions.
Methods:- Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted on 321 pregnant women attended antenatal care during the study period using interviewer administered, pre-tested, structured questionnaire from March to April, 2012 in Asella governmental health institutions. Data was collected by convenient sampling technique after ethical clearance was obtained from
the concerned authorities and then entered in Epi-info and analyzed using SPSS software.
Result:- A total of 321 pregnant women (response rate 100%) attended antenatal care in Asella hospital and Asella health center were included in the study. Among the studied women 291(90.7%) were willing for HCT, and 30 (9.3%) were not willing for HCT. The strongest association with willingness for HCT rested with parity, number of ANC visits and perceived risk of HIV. Primipara women were about 12 times more likely willing for HCT than nullipara mothers (AOR=12.33, 95% CI=1.25,121.57), and also those who had 2 and above ANC visits were 9.6 times more likely willing for HCT than those who had only 1 ANC visit (AOR=9.64,95% CI=1.93,48.28). Women who were perceived themselves not at risk of acquiring HIV were more likely willing for HCT than those women who perceived themselves at risk (AOR=0.08,95% CI=0.01,0.41).
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study revealed high-level of awareness about HIV,
HCT, MTCT and PMTCT of HIV among pregnant women attended ANC in the study areas. Relatively increased proportion of willingness for HCT was seen when compared to other studies and it has to be encouraged more, since it is a cornerstone for PMTCT of HIV. Health education targeted on pregnant women on HCT, MTCT and PMTCT of HIV using different resources and
male partner participation would have paramount importance and would be important factor to scale up HCT acceptance more at all levels.
Description
Keywords
Antenatal Care ,HIV Counseling , Testing