Attitude And Practice Of Antenatal HIV Screening Among Pregnant Women Attending A Secondary Health Facility In Benin-city

Abstract

To assess the awareness, attitude and practice ofHIVtesting among antenatal clients in Benin-city. Across-sectional, descriptive study was carried out among 200 pregnant women. Respondents were selected at the weekly booking clinic using systematic sampling technique. Pre-tested, semi-structured and researcher-administered questionnairewas tool for data collection. All the respondentswere aware ofHIVtesting.Majority (85.5%) supported antenatal HIV testingwith a higher proportion supporting mandatory testing (51.0%). About 25.0% of the respondents had undergone
HIV testing and only 27.5% of them were counseled. Previous HIV testing was associated with higher educational status (p = 0.0443) and a higher parity (p = 0.0191).About 59.1% of those who had not been tested werewilling to undergo the test. Predictors ofwillingness to testwere a positive reaction to a positive test result (p = 0.0015) and support for mandatory testing (p = 0.0021). Age, educational status and parity were not associated with willingness to test. (p > 0.05) The practice of HIV testing was low and indicates the need to increase public enlightenment programmes on voluntaryHIVtesting and its benefits.

Keywords: Awareness, Attitude, Practice, VCCT, HIV/AIDS.

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 324-329