Abstract

Sub-saharan Africa bears the major brunt of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and 10% of these infections are due to vertical or mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in the developed world have resulted in a dramatic decline in pediatric HIV/AIDS. A study of the awareness, knowledge and previous testing for HIV/AIDS among antenatal clinic attendees at the university of Uyo teaching hospital was carried out as a strategy to develop site specific counselling interventions for PMTCT, information was elicited from 263 women who booked for ante-natal care between September and December 2005 with the use of a self administered structured questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 26.9 ± 5.1 years, awareness of HIV/AIDS was high (95.8%) and general knowledge was good (86.7%), but with some misconceptions. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the educational status of the respondents (P = 0.031) but none with occupation (P = 0.877). 117 women (44.5%) had previously been screened for HIV but there was no statistically significant association between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and previous HIV testing (P = 0.194). To reduce the burden of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, adequate counselling should be given to all pregnant women. This should contain correct information on the mode of transmission of the virus, benefits of antiretroviral prophylaxis, other non drug interventions and proper infant feeding.

Key words: Awareness, knowledge, antenatal, HIV/AIDS, Uyo.