STUDY ON AWARENESS OF HIV-AIDS AMONG PREGNANT WOMAN ATTENDING OBS-GYNAE OPD IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL, BILASPUR (C.G)
Abstract
Introduction: AIDS (the acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a fatal illness caused by retrovirus, which breaks down the body's immunity, leaving the victim vulnerable to a host of life-threatening opportunistic infections, neurological disorder, or unusual malignancies. This retrovirus is known as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS refers to the last stage of the HIV Infection. It can be called our modern pandemic, affecting both industrialised & developing countries.
Objectives:
- To assess knowledge of pregnant women about HIV-AIDS.
- To assess Attitude towards HIV-AIDS among pregnant women.
- To assess practice of pregnant women towards HIV/AIDS.
Material and methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted on pregnant women attending primary health centre, Sampatchak, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh. The study was commenced with the approval of institutional ethical committee during the period of January 2017 to march 2017 among all the pregnant women who attended ANC clinic, Thus total 100 women received ANC services during our study duration. All the pregnant women during their first antenatal visits to the PHC and who gave consent where included in the study. Data was collected using pretested, validated and structured proforma.
Results: In our study 76% of pregnant women were from age less than 25 years. Only 18% and 6% of pregnant women were in the age group of 26-35 years above 36 years respectively. Majority of the study participants were from rural area. It was found that pregnant women had poor knowledge about HIV, AIDS, transmission of infection, measure to prevent the infections, signs and the investigation to detect HIV. In our study only 29% of the participants had positive attitude towards using condom. But a good thing was Majority of the participants had favourable attitude toward people infected with HIV. In this study it was found that there was wide discrepancy in the knowledge and practice among the participants.
Conclusion: Based on the study findings, severe gap between the knowledge and the practice of the participants was observed. There is a need to conduct IEC and counselling session to further sensitise the pregnant women about the MCTC, Signs and symptoms of HIV, importance of knowing there HIV status during pregnancy and role of barrier contraceptives in preventing HIV infection.
Keywords: Mother to child transmission, HIV test, HIV in Pregnant Woman
