Open AccessKnowledge and attitudes about HIV infection and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in an urban, low income community in Durban, South Africa: Perspectives of residents and health care volunteers
Author(s) -
Firoza Haffejee,
Katie A. Ports,
Maghboeba Mosavel
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
health sa gesondheid
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.247
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2071-9736
pISSN - 1025-9848
DOI - 10.4102/hsag.v21i0.949
Subject(s) - human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , transmission (telecommunications) , medicine , health education , family medicine , health care , child bearing , community health , developing country , community health workers , nursing , environmental health , gerontology , public health , population , health services , economic growth , electrical engineering , engineering , economics
Background: HIV prevalence is high among South African women of reproductive age and transmission of HIV from mothers to children is a concern. This study ascertained the level of knowledge about HIV infection and prevention, particularly prevention of mother toc hild transmission (PMTCT) amongst South African women from a low income community. It also established the challenges in delivering HIV education from the perspectives of health care volunteers.Method: Female residents (n = 67) from Kenneth Gardens, a low income community in Durban, South Africa were interviewed. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 health care volunteers who were either health care workers or residents who provided some form of social support in the community.Results: The majority of respondents indicated that a mother could transmit HIV to her child but were unable to specify how. Many women had general HIV/AIDS knowledge but were unable to identify essential prevention behaviours and were not very receptive to more information on HIV/AIDS. They were supportive of routine testing procedures and child bearing amongst HIV positive women. Health care volunteers indicated a need for a community clinic in the area.They also had limited knowledge of PMTCT and indicated that there was a need for more education on HIV, particularly to encourage the youth and men to use preventative measures.Conclusion: Innovative ways to impart knowledge particularly of PMTCT and updated standards of practice are essential. It is important that the community understands how transmission occurs so that prevention can follow.