Predictors of Attitude towards HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) among Antenatal Clients attending Primary Healthcare Facilities in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background This descriptive cross sectional study evaluated social and demographic factors predicting antenatal care (ANC) clients’ attitude towards HCT in primary health care (PHC) settings in northern Nigeria. Methods Data was collected from 464 newly booked ANC clients using semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using Epi-info 3.3.02 computer statistical software. Results Our assessment revealed that only 54 (11.6%) of the clients had a positive attitude towards HCT. Clients’ type of marriage, occupation, and educational status significantly influenced the antenatal clients’ attitude towards HCT. After adjusting for confounders however, clients’ education emerged as predictor of their attitude to HCT. Clients with formal education were 2 times more likely to have positive attitude to HCT. Conclusions We recommend that government at all levels should make girl child education compulsory up to at least the secondary school level, in line with the current policy on basic education in Nigeria.

Key words: HIV Counselling and Testing, Attitude, Predictors