Factors Determining Acceptance of Voluntary HIV Testing among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Armed Force Hospitals in Addis Ababa
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Date
2005-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Back ground Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is by far the largest source of HIV infection
in children below the age of 15 years. The virus may be transmitted during pregnancy child birth
or breast feeding. Globally 2.7 million children under the age of 15 years have died of AIDS
since the beginning of the epidemics. Over 9 in 10 were infected by their mothers. For many
years little was known about preventing transmission of HIV infection from mother to child.
Recently however, many interventions are available to reduce mother to child transmission, such
as anti retroviral drug and avoidance of breast feeding. For women to take advantage of measures
to reduce transmission, they need to know their HIV status. Despite this fact many women are not
willing to take voluntary HIV counseling and testing.
Objective The main objective of the study is to identify factors determining acceptance of
voluntary HIV testing among pregnant women at army hospitals in Addis Ababa.
Method Unmatched case control study was conducted on 88 acceptors and 176 non-acceptors of
VCT using structured pretested questionnaire from December 2004 to January 2005, at army
hospitals in Addis Ababa.
Results Among socio-demographic factors the odds of VCT acceptance was higher among better
educated, married, with higher income women and among women whose husbands live at home.
Women who had better knowledge of VCT and MTCT and women with at least two ANC visit
had significantly higher VCT acceptance than their counterparts.
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Adjusted for socio-demographic and some reproductive characters tics VCT acceptance was
significantly associated with knowledge about MTCT (OR=7.34, 95% CI= 3.44, 15.67), previous
VCT experience (OR= 2.51, 95% CI= 1.03, 6.17) and husbands residence ( at home) (OR= 4.97,
95% CI = 2.15,11.46).
Conclusions and recommendation
Education of the mother, knowledge of MTCT and VCT and partner participation were important
factors of VCT acceptance. Health education targeted on pregnant women on PMTCT and VCT
would have paramount importance using different sources
Key words acceptance, HIV testing, pregnant women, antenatal care
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Keywords
acceptance, HIV testing, pregnant women, antenatal care