Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Factors Associated with Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS among Pregnant Mothers Attending Antenatal Clinic in Hawassa Referral Hospital, South Ethiopia

Background: Better knowledge of, good attitude towards and practicing prevention of mother-to-child transmission is highly effective intervention and has an enormous potential to improve both maternal and child health. Hence, this study tried to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and factors associated with prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS among pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care clinic at Hawassa University Referral Hospital in 2012. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 238 antenatal care attendees. Data were collected through structured pre-tested questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi Info and analyzed by using SPSS software for windows. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were done. Results: More than four-fifth (82.3%) mothers knew about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and 97.4% had good attitude towards it. Only about half (48.3%) of the respondents knew that antiretroviral drugs given for seropositive pregnant mothers could reduce the risk of transmission. Urbanite mothers were more knowledgeable than their rural counter parts (AOR=2.63, 95%CI (2.5, 5.31)). The odds of knowledge on prevention of mother-tochild transmission was about 3 times higher among multipara (AOR=2.64, 95%CI (2.02, 5.38)). It was also higher among women having their antenatal follow up for the current pregnancy (AOR=6.2, 95%CI (1.15, 9.44)). About 96% of mothers have been tested for HIV and the rest did not test due mainly to fear of stigma, discrimination and lack of confidentiality. Health Center delivery (AOR=1.2, 95%CI (1.73, 3.25)) and antenatal care visit of four and above for the current pregnancy (AOR=1.04, 95% CI (1.01, 2.49)) found to have statistically significant association. Conclusion: Women’s empowerment, improving antenatal care services and male involvement were significant predictors of knowledge, attitude and uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission services and should be promoted through community mobilization.