Strategies for promoting the prevention of mother to child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus among antenatal attendees in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

Introduction Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services have become integral in antenatal services to ensure the effective control and generational transmission of HIV. According to the Ministry of Health Ghana (MOH/GHS 2014:3), PMTCT of HIV services have been introduced in all regions of Ghana, but mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV continues to rise and has always been a major concern for the country, especially the health sector. One of the critical issues for promoting PMTCT of HIV services is to promote awareness among antenatal attendees. Purpose of the study The purpose of this study was to explore and describe antenatal attendees’ and midwives’ perceptions and develop strategies for the promotion of antenatal attendees’ awareness of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus services in the Central Region of Ghana. Method The study used a quantitative research approach. Questionnaires were used as tools for gathering data for the study. The population comprised of all pregnant women aged 15 to 49 attending antenatal clinics in the selected district hospitals in the Central Region of Ghana and all midwives aged 21 to 60 working at the antenatal clinics in those selected district hospitals. A total of 496 respondents were sampled for the study, comprising 48 midwives and 448 antenatal attendees. The census sampling and the convenient sampling were used respectively. The table for determining sample size from a given population provided by Krejae and Morgan (1970) was used to sample the antenatal attendees and the stratified allocation formula was utilised to distribute them across the various ANCs. The study was conducted in the antenatal clinics of the selected district hospitals. Data were processed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results The study found that the midwives generally had positive perceptions on PMTCT of HIV services. The midwives also had positive attitudes towards the provision of PMTCT of HIV services to antenatal attendees. Further, the antenatal attendees had poor perceptions about the PMTCT of HIV services hence, affecting their awareness of the services. The multiple regression analysis was used to predict four factors that can affect antenatal attendees’ decision to test for HIV. These are the availability of treatment in case I test positive, confidentiality of status, approval from partners and free testing. Finally, new strategies were developed to promote the awareness of PMTCT of HIV services among antenatal attendees in the Central Region of Ghana. Conclusion Even though the midwives had positive perceptions and attitudes toward the PMTCT of HIV services they were rendering, the antenatal attendees’ receiving the services had poor perceptions towards the services, hence, affecting their awareness of the services available. Also, incorporating the new strategies developed from the study into the existing ones would help to increase participation which would promote PMTCT of HIV awareness among antenatal attendees in the Central Region of Ghana.