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Do women enrolled in PMTCT understand the recommendations : A case study from Kilimanjaro

Philemon, Rune N. ; Mmbaga, Blandina T. ; Bartlett, John ; Renju, Jenny ; Mtuy, Tara ; Mboya, Innocent B. LU orcid and Msuya, Sia E. (2021) In Patient Preference and Adherence 15. p.1301-1309
Abstract

Introduction: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) remains a cornerstone of HIV prevention and control efforts. It is vital that the beneficiaries of PMTCT programs understand PMTCT recommendations, especially since their adherence to recommendations is key to successful PMTCT. There have been several major changes in PMTCT recommendations, and many women have encountered different recommendations. It is plausible that confusion has arisen as to what is currently recommended for successful PMTCT. This confusion can affect adherence to recommendations and hinder PMTCT efforts. However, little is known about how women enrolled in PMTCT understand the recommendations in the context of these frequent changes. Aim: In this... (More)

Introduction: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) remains a cornerstone of HIV prevention and control efforts. It is vital that the beneficiaries of PMTCT programs understand PMTCT recommendations, especially since their adherence to recommendations is key to successful PMTCT. There have been several major changes in PMTCT recommendations, and many women have encountered different recommendations. It is plausible that confusion has arisen as to what is currently recommended for successful PMTCT. This confusion can affect adherence to recommendations and hinder PMTCT efforts. However, little is known about how women enrolled in PMTCT understand the recommendations in the context of these frequent changes. Aim: In this paper, we present our findings regarding how HIV-positive women enrolled in PMTCT in Kilimanjaro understand PMTCT recommendations pertinent to them. Methods: From August 2019 to April 2020, we surveyed 521 mothers enrolled in PMTCT in seven districts in the Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania. A pretested questionnaire was administered to consenting mothers. The questionnaire collected information on mothers’ demographic characteristics, previous encounters with PMTCT, and knowledge of various PMTCT program elements, including medication duration, breastfeeding recommendations and infant HIV testing schedule. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with good PMTCT knowledge among mothers. Results: A total of 521 women were enrolled, the median score for the 19 items used to assess knowledge was 57.9%, and 64.9% scored above the median. Counselling on ART (OR=2.17, 95% CI 1.08–4.36) and counselling on breastfeeding during the ANC visits (OR=2.38, 95% CI 1.38–4.11) were the only factors that we found to be significantly associated with higher odds of good knowledge of PMTCT. Conclusion: Even amongst mothers enrolled in PMTCT, poor understanding regarding key PMTCT recommendations prevails. There is a need to reassess the training modalities and look at ways to reinforce PMTCT messages to mothers.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Mother’s knowledge, PMTCT knowledge, PMTCT recommendations, Understanding PMTCT
in
Patient Preference and Adherence
volume
15
pages
1301 - 1309
publisher
Dove Medical Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • pmid:34163147
  • scopus:85108818071
ISSN
1177-889X
DOI
10.2147/PPA.S307847
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Philemon et al.
id
3887eb89-9be4-4c24-a1ff-e8110756f118
date added to LUP
2022-09-29 10:04:46
date last changed
2024-05-02 15:43:39
@article{3887eb89-9be4-4c24-a1ff-e8110756f118,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) remains a cornerstone of HIV prevention and control efforts. It is vital that the beneficiaries of PMTCT programs understand PMTCT recommendations, especially since their adherence to recommendations is key to successful PMTCT. There have been several major changes in PMTCT recommendations, and many women have encountered different recommendations. It is plausible that confusion has arisen as to what is currently recommended for successful PMTCT. This confusion can affect adherence to recommendations and hinder PMTCT efforts. However, little is known about how women enrolled in PMTCT understand the recommendations in the context of these frequent changes. Aim: In this paper, we present our findings regarding how HIV-positive women enrolled in PMTCT in Kilimanjaro understand PMTCT recommendations pertinent to them. Methods: From August 2019 to April 2020, we surveyed 521 mothers enrolled in PMTCT in seven districts in the Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania. A pretested questionnaire was administered to consenting mothers. The questionnaire collected information on mothers’ demographic characteristics, previous encounters with PMTCT, and knowledge of various PMTCT program elements, including medication duration, breastfeeding recommendations and infant HIV testing schedule. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with good PMTCT knowledge among mothers. Results: A total of 521 women were enrolled, the median score for the 19 items used to assess knowledge was 57.9%, and 64.9% scored above the median. Counselling on ART (OR=2.17, 95% CI 1.08–4.36) and counselling on breastfeeding during the ANC visits (OR=2.38, 95% CI 1.38–4.11) were the only factors that we found to be significantly associated with higher odds of good knowledge of PMTCT. Conclusion: Even amongst mothers enrolled in PMTCT, poor understanding regarding key PMTCT recommendations prevails. There is a need to reassess the training modalities and look at ways to reinforce PMTCT messages to mothers.</p>}},
  author       = {{Philemon, Rune N. and Mmbaga, Blandina T. and Bartlett, John and Renju, Jenny and Mtuy, Tara and Mboya, Innocent B. and Msuya, Sia E.}},
  issn         = {{1177-889X}},
  keywords     = {{Mother’s knowledge; PMTCT knowledge; PMTCT recommendations; Understanding PMTCT}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1301--1309}},
  publisher    = {{Dove Medical Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{Patient Preference and Adherence}},
  title        = {{Do women enrolled in PMTCT understand the recommendations : A case study from Kilimanjaro}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S307847}},
  doi          = {{10.2147/PPA.S307847}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}