A Resarch Paper n Assessement of Kap of Hiv Positive Mothers on Vct and Infant Feeding in Akaki Kaliti, Addis Abeba, Ethiiopi a
Creators: name: Mebratu, Tadelech
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2014

description: Background: Strategies to respond to the global HIV epidemic include preventing new infections and providing care and support to infected individuals. Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) is one of the strategies given high priority. In Ethiopia, 96 000 children under fifteen live with HIV, which is related to the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS and mother to child transmission (MTCT) of the virus. Without intervention, the risk of MTCT of HIV is 15-30% in non breastfeeding populations; breastfeeding by an infected mother increases the risk by 5-20% to a total of 20-45%. Studies have also shown the variation in MTCT rates by duration of breastfeeding, exclusivity of breastfeeding, and the danger of mixed feeding. Objective This study was at determining the levels and identifying determinants of KAP of mothers about VCT and feeding of infants born to HIV positive women. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted by using quantitative data collection method with pre tested structured questioner on 300 mothers (79 pregnant and 221 lactating) residing in akaki kality sub city from April to may 2014. Study subjects were selected using simple random sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics were used to describe characteristics of the study subjects and logistic regression model were used to predict the association of the independent and outcome variable. Results: Among the mothers (n=300), 38.8% had sufficient knowledge about MTCT (during pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding), 4 1.8% had sufficient knowledge about PMTCT, 30.5% had sufficient knowledge about infant feeding options recommended to HIV positive women, 62.4% had favorable attitude towards VCT, 4.7% had favorable attitude towards the feeding options, 84.5% visited health institutions for antenatal care and 35.7% used VCT service during their last pregnancy. Beside these lactating mothers (n=221) practiced mixed feeding 81.5%, exclusive breastfeeding 13.4% and most (91.1%) of the pregnant mothers intended to mixed feed their infants of age 0-6 months. Based on logistic regression analysis, knowledge of the mothers about the infant feeding options was significantly associated with their, age, husbands being important persons for mothers to decide on how to feed their infants, and counseling mothers on infant feeding during ANC. Infant feeding practices of lactating mothers was also having a statistically significant association with their ANC use, and place of delivery. Conclusion/ recommendation: Mixed feeding increases the risk of non HIV diseases like diarrhea and malnutrition for infants of age 0-6 months, and for most of mothers didn't know their HIV status potentially increases risk of MTCT of HIV. Therefore, strengthening counseling mothers on safe infant feeding practices, and introducing an appropriately designed BCC program to the community on safe infant feeding Practices and importance of partners Involvement in HIV testing and counseling are mandatory Key words: - Infant feeding, VCT, PMTCT, MTCT