Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of General Medical Practitioners In Port Harcourt Towards The Prevention Of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV.

Abstract

Background: Pregnant women living with HIV infection are at risk of transmitting HIV to their babies. Most of this transmission occurs during labour and delivery and during breast feeding. About 45% of all deliveries are conducted in private clinics. This study aims to access the knowledge, attitude and practice of general medical practitioner in Port Harcourt toward the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out on two hundred and twenty four private medical practitioners in Port Harcourt. Data  management was carried out using ® SPSS 15 for windows statistical software.
Results: Only 50% of respondents had read the national guideline on PMTCT while 48.2% had three or more sources of information on PMTCT. Majority of the respondents (95.5%) identified prevention of HIV in the pediatric age group as the primary aim of PMTCT. Labour was identified by 80%of respondents as the time of transmission of MTCT of HIV while 48.2% preferred a specialist unit for HIV positive pregnant women. Forty two percent would screen pregnant women without consent. About half (46.6%) do not offer antenatal or delivery services to HIV positive women. Of the doctors that offer those services 58.7% could name 2 or more drugs to prevent MTCT of HIV during pregnancy. Of the respondents, 74% would offer HIV positive women elective caesarean section. Most of the respondents (89.3%) agreed that their knowledge, attitude and practice of PMTCT was deficient and 90.1% were willing to attend an update course.
Conclusion: The Private General Practitioners were not well informed on practical aspects of prevention of MTCT of HIV/AIDS. They showed a discriminatory attitude towards HIV positive pregnant women.

Key words: Private Practitioners, HIV, PMTCT.