Michael Pou Machar*
Background: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can be transmitted from HIV positive mothers to their child during pregnancy, at time of giving birth and breastfeeding. Majority of children infection with HIV is due to Mother To Child Transmission (MTCT). The prevalence of Mother To Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV in pregnant HIV positive women with no intervention ranges from 15%-45%.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, Practice of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) among pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic at Pagak health center, South Sudan
Methodology: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to February 2023, investigated knowledge, attitude and practice towards PMTCT of pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic at Pagak health center, upper Nile state, Maban county. Data were entered to Epi-info and were analysed using SPSS version 26. Association between dependent and independent variables were examined by using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models and were reported as unadjusted Odds Ratio (OR) and Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI). In addition Pvalue (<0.05) were used to examine statistical significance.
Result: Pregnant women whose educational status is secondary and above had four times knowledge about MTCT than their counter party (AOR=4.50: 95% CI (1.18-17.07)). Pertaining ANC visit, pregnant women who had repeated visit, had three fold knowledge about MTCT than their counterpart (AOR=3.58: 95% CI (1.49-8.60))
Conclusion: This study concluded that educational status and numbers of ANC contacts are crucial for the knowledge, attitude and practise on PMTCT. Moreover, the study explored that the pregnant women had moderate knowledge, attitude, and practise as we compared to the similar study conducted in the neighbours countries. Intervention and improvement are much needed to extend the PMTCT services to larger scale. Girls’ education is more important as to understand PMTCT and result in to good health of both mother and baby.