Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

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Browsing Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences by Author "Abiodun, Oluwasola Afolabi"

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    Womens attitudes toward their partners involvement in ante-natal care services and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Quthing district
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04) Abiodun, Oluwasola Afolabi; Qubuda, Thozamile; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: HIV and AIDS remains a public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa even though the epidemic has stabilized worldwide. The key strategy to prevention and control of HIV remains voluntary counselling and testing. Mother-to child transmission accounts for over 95% of all paediatric HIV infections worldwide. It is estimated that, in Sub-Saharan Africa, 76% of pregnant women have at least one antenatal care. In Quthing district, mother to child transmission of HIV accounts for 36% of all paediatric HIV infections in 2010 while HIV prevalence of women of child bearing age stands at 26%. Consequently, antenatal care is an avenue through which the women can have HIV testing, and, if she is infected, will be provided with care so as to prevent transmission of HIV from the mother to the child (PMTCT). The ministry of health, Lesotho in collaboration with Non-governmental organization have advocated increase in the number of men tested for HIV through partner testing in antenatal care. Health care practitioners are often required to care and treat these women when they present for antenatal care. It is essential to determine their knowledge and risks of transmission of HIV and their attitudes towards their patient and their partner involvement in antenatal care and PMTCT. Recent survey has shown that African women may not be willing to accommodate their partner’s involvement in antenatal care due to cultural and traditional factors. METHODS: The study surveyed women to identify their attitudes and beliefs concerning antenatal care, partners’ involvement in antenatal care and testing, PMTCT and to identify the attitude of MCH staffs to male partner involvement in antenatal care. This study elicited data from 25 pregnant women and nursing mothers and 10 staffs of maternal and child health of Quthing district hospital. Two types of data were collected namely: self-administered questionnaire with 25 women and semi-structured interview with 10 staffs of MCH. RESULTS: What came out clearly is that women viewed antenatal care as important to having good pregnancy result and they see it as an avenue to get tested. Majority of the women (68%) were in support of their partners’ involvement in antenatal care. The staffs of MCH were in total support of this. Cultural factors and gender based beliefs were found to be hindering male involvement in PMTCT programme and getting tested for HIV. The results also show that the staffs of MCH have positive attitudes towards people living with HIV. DISCUSSIONS: Although, pregnancy has traditionally been viewed as a woman's affair, a good number of women expressed the desire to get their partners’ involved in antenatal care, including HIV counselling and testing. Majority of the women see antenatal care as a way to having a successful pregnancy and have identified male involvement down to individual beliefs. The researcher suggests improvement in antenatal care services and provision of a comprehensive approach to community mobilization of men. Further, ministry of health could assist in improving the knowledge of health professionals on HIV and AIDS related matters through the implementation of continuous professional development courses.