Knowledge and Utilization of PMTCT among HIV Positive Women Attending Postnatal Clinic at Bariadi District Hospital, Tanzania

Background: Mother to child transmission of HIV has been one of the major health problems in Tanzania. It occurs when a HIV infected woman passes the virus to her baby at delivery and during breast feeding. It is not known if pregnant women are aware that HIV pregnant women can pass the virus to the expecting baby and utilize the PMTCT as a prevention strategy.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and utilization of PMTCT among HIV positive women attending postnatal clinic at Bariadi District Hospital.

Methodology: A descriptive Cross-sectional study was carried to pregnant HIV positive women attending postnatal clinic and VTC centers using structured questionnaire.

Results: A total of 217 pregnant HIV positive women participated in the study. The results showed 85.7 were between 15-44 age group; 72.8% had primary school education and 54.8% were married. Further, the study showed 91.2% had knowledge that HIV could be transmitted from infected mother to her unborn child. The study showed that 90.3% had tested HIV at the booking of ANC. It was learnt that 6.5% underwent caesarean section, 92.2% of women took prophylactic ARV during labor, 87.6% took Nevirapine to save the expected child in the first 72 hours and 81.1% had exclusive breastfeeding as a feeding option to minimize risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child. Above all 86.2% of the study population received counseling and family planning education while attending antenatal clinic.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that on PMTCT during antenatal had significant behavioral change on utilization PMTCT services. This implies that if communities are well informed by an expert on PMTCT can bring behavioral change on the targeted health problem.