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Attitude of antenatal patients in Enugu toward HIV screening


Hyginus U Ezegwui
Arthur C Ikeme
Chika N Onwasigwe

Abstract

Objective: To assess attitude towards antenatal Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) screening in Enugu, Nigeria.

Method: A self-report questionnaire was administered to two hundred and nine women attending antenatal booking clinics at the University of Nigerian Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

Results: The mean age was 29.7 years. One hundred and sixty three patients 78.0% were aware of HIV Screenng before booking while 22.0% were not aware at the time of booking. A total of 123 women (58.9%) had previous HIV Screening while the rest (41.1%) accepted the screening for the first time. Educational Level has a significant effect on uptake of HIV test 2 = 8.97, p = 0.003 df = 2 and on the perceived benefit of HIV Screening x2 = 16.6, p = 0.00005 df = 3 but has no significant effect on the awareness of vertical transmission x2 = 0.62, p = 0.43, df = 2. The reason for declining HIV Screening was that AIDS has no known cure, followed by fear of positive result.

Conclusion: The awareness and attitude of Nigeria pregnant women towards HIV Screening and uptake of the test is good. Educational level has a significant effect on the uptake and perceived benefit of the test. Antenatal women should be offered routine voluntary counseling and testing.

Keywords: antenatal, HIV screening, Nigeria

Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vol. 22(1) 2005: 156-158

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