TY - JOUR AU - Ngadaya, Esther AU - Shija, Angela AU - Sindato, Calvin AU - Kahwa, Amos AU - Kimaro, Godfather AU - Senkoro, Mbazi AU - Mnaymbwa, Nicholaus AU - Philibert, Doreen AU - Mbilu, Togolai AU - Mandara, Celina AU - Shemtandulo, Ramadhani AU - Mwinyeheri, Thomas AU - Wilfred, Aman AU - Mfinanga, Sayoki PY - 2021/10/10 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Knowledge and utilization of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services among pregnant women in Tanzania JF - Tanzania Journal of Health Research JA - Tanzania J Hlth Res VL - 22 IS - 1 SE - Original Article DO - 10.4314/thrb.v22i1.5 UR - https://www.ajol.info/index.php/thrb/article/view/213279 SP - AB - <p><strong>Background</strong>: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection among children is mainly vectored through mother-to-child transmission. Prevention of mother-to-child-transmission strategy is highly effective; however, its accessibility and utilization is affected by the lack of knowledge among other factors.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: A cross-sectional study was conducted among antenatal care attendees in two districts in Tanzania to determine their knowledge and utilization of the prevention of MTCT services.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>&nbsp;We interviewed 160 antenatal care attendees aged 18-45 years with a mean (SD) age of 30.4 (6.3) years; 74 (46.2 %) were HIV-infected. HIV-infected women demonstrated significantly correct knowledge of HIV (<em>p</em>=0.001) and AIDS (<em>p</em>=0.014) than uninfected individuals. HIV-infected women also significantly demonstrated correct knowledge of mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy than HIV-uninfected women (<em>p=0.016</em>) and during delivery (<em>p</em>=0.005). A significant proportion of HIV-positive women compared to HIV-negative women were aware that correct use of antiretroviral during pregnancy can reduce the risk of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV (<em>p</em>&lt;0.039), but only 6 (3.75%) of all women were aware that correct use of antiretroviral during delivery can significantly reduce the risk of mother-to-child-transmission. HIV-infected women had significant comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS (<em>p=0.001</em>) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (<em>p</em>=0.006) than HIV-negative women. Comprehensive knowledge prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV was low among the study participants. Male partners’ involvement in maternal antenatal care was significantly higher among HIV-infected women than males from the HIV-infected women group (<em>p</em>&lt;0.006).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study demonstrated inadequate knowledge of PMTCT among women who made ANC visits. HIV uninfected women had poorer knowledge compared to the HIV-infected ones. Routine HIV counseling and testing services were highly accepted among these women.</p> ER -