Creek T, Ntumy R, Mazhani L, Galavotti C, Moore J, Smith M, Han G, Shaffer N, Kilmarx PH; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. C11122.
BOTUSA Project, U.S. CDC, Gaborone, Botswana
Background: Pregnant women in northern Botswana have >40% HIV prevalence and have had PMTCT services available since 1999. Although nearly all women have antenatal care (ANC) and hospital deliveries, HIV service uptake is low, which may be due to women's knowledge and attitudes about PMTCT. Methods: We interviewed 504 women receiving antenatal or postnatal care in northern Botswana. Results: Most women learned about PMTCT from clinic counselors (67%) and the radio (74%). 69% of women correctly answered >9 of 12 factual questions about PMTCT. Almost all respondents (94%) believed that all pregnant women should be tested for HIV, but only 56% had been tested. Women who refused an HIV test, compared to other women, were more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy (75% vs. 58%) and more were unwilling to take medicine that would only benefit their infant (32% vs. 6%). They were less likely to know someone who has participated in PMTCT (11% vs. 19%) or is taking antiretrovirals (7% vs. 19%). Of 220 women with known test results, 73 (33%)were HIV-positive. One woman refused PMTCT. Most (88%) wanted antiretroviral treatment, but only 64% knew how to enroll in the national treatment program. 85% wanted to meet other HIV-positive women; only 25% were told about community support organizations. Conclusions: Knowledge about PMTCT is high in this group, and routine testing for HIV is acceptable in principle. Many pregnancies among women refusing a test are unplanned, highlighting the role of family planning in preventing infant infections. Women who refuse a test may benefit from programs using HIV-positive women as role models. HIV-positive women would benefit from strengthened links between ANC and HIV care and support.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Attitude
- Botswana
- Child
- Counseling
- Disease Transmission, Vertical
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Infant
- Knowledge
- Mothers
- Pregnancy
- Prenatal Care
- Prevalence
- methods
- therapy
- transmission
Other ID:
UI: 102277258
From Meeting Abstracts