Knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian doctors and midwives towards pregnant women infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Abstract

An appraisal of the knowledge, attitude and practice of doctors and midwives towards women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was carried out. The data were collected using a cross-sectional self report questionnaire. Heterosexual transmission was known (92.2%) to be the commonest mode of transmission. Among the respondents, 49.4% knew that vertical transmission could be reduced through drugs. Majority (92.3%) wanted the cost of screening, confirmatory test and treatment reduced. However 83.5% support mandatory screening. Only 53.8% of the respondents would accept to nurse and treat HIV positive mother. It was found that 42.8% do not carry out pretest and post test counselling and 61.5% admitted that they do not inform their patients about their HIV status when the test is positive. All the respondents admitted that they do not use antiretroviral drugs in the management of HIV positive pregnant patients. In conclusion, pregnant women infected with HIV virus do not receive optimal medical care for their condition. It is wrong to believe that they are well accepted by the attending doctors and midwives. To improve on these, effort should be made to train and retrain doctors and midwives in the prevention, diagnosis and management of this disease. Additionally antiretroviral drugs should be made available and affordable.

Keywords

• knowledge
• attitude
• practice
• doctors
• midwives
• htv
• pregnant women
• education