Abstract:
Context: Majority of paediatric HIV/AIDS are from infected mothers. adequate prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV is a priority. Health education may affect our knowledge and practice of such prevention.
Objective: To determine the impact or health education on the awareness ,and acceptability of strategies for' prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV among antenatal clients in Enugu.
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Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of the impact of health education strategies for PMTCT.
Results: A total of 150 antenatal clients were studied. Their mean age was 29.9 ±4.0. Ninety four point seven percent (94.7%) were married and 60% of them had post secondarv education. There was high level of awareness and acceptability of PMTCT measures amongst the respondents. ()1I1 or the 150 respondents, 123 (82.0%) identified correctly the meaning of HIV, 140(93.3% ) were aware it can affect the newborn. 105 (75%) knew how it is transmitted and 135 (90.0%) had awareness that we can prevent mother to child transmission of HIV. It was found that 130 (86.6%) or the respondents would accept some measures for PMTCT. Awareness that HIV can affect new born increased from 130 (93.3%) to 145 (96.7%) following health education while those who would accept PNTCT measures increased from 130 (86.6%) to 146 (97.4%). These increases were statistically significant (p 0.05).
Conclusions:
Health education had a positive and significant impact on the awareness and acceptability of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV amongst antenatal clients in Enugu.
