Knowledge and Practices Regarding Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission of HIV among Health Workers in Primary Healthcare Centers in Sokoto, Nigeria

Introduction: Evidence from studies has shown that transmission of HIV from mother-to-child during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding can be reduced from 15 – 45% in the absence of any intervention to below 5% with effective interventions during these periods. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices regarding prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among health workers in Primary Healthcare Centers in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 241 Primary Health Care (PHC) workers selected by universal sampling. Data were collected with a set of standardized, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire, and analyzed using the IBM SPSS Version 20 statistical computer software package.

Results: All the 241 respondents were aware of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV infection. About two-thirds (62.6%) of respondents have attended a training workshop on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV infection. Only about two-thirds (63.5%) of respondents had good knowledge of MTCT of HIV and its prevention; and it was significantly associated with cadre. The most commonly known methods of MTCT of HIV were through the placenta (71.4%), during vaginal delivery (70.5%) and through breast feeding (62.7%). Only about half to two-thirds of respondents knew the methods of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection. The methods most commonly known to the respondents were delivery by cesarean section (66.8%), avoiding procedures that increase risk of MTCT of HIV (66.4%), and HIV testing and counseling of pregnant women (63.5%). Barely two-thirds of respondents (58.9%) routinely provide HIV testing and counseling for all the pregnant women seen by them at their respective health facilities, and less than half of respondents (44.4%) routinely administer ARV prophylaxis to mother and child or refer them to where such services are available.

Conclusion: Although, awareness of PMTCT of HIV was high among the respondents in this study, on the job training, knowledge and practices were poor. These findings suggest the need to ensure universal coverage in training and access to information on PMTCT of HIV among healthcare workers. In addition, governments and other stakeholders involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and control should give PMTCT of HIV top priority.