HIV Project: KAP Study

HIV PROJECT: KAP Study

Study Area: Central Region of Cameroon

Study Duration: 2024 – 2025

Study design: This will be a cross-sectional descriptive hospital-based study

Targets: Health care providers, Antenatal care attendant, Traditional health care provider

Background

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV occurs when an HIV-positive woman passes the virus to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. It accounts for over 90% of HIV-related infections in infants and young children, and over 10% of HIV infections worldwide. Also, more than 90% of HIV-infected children worldwide are found in this sub-region of Africa supported by UNAID which shows that out of 150,000 children (0-14 years) newly infected in 2019, 126,000 (84%) live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cameroon, like most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has been facing the HIV pandemic since the 1980s. This pandemic, which emerged in 1985, led the country to implement a series of initiatives that have significantly reduced the impact of the disease within the population. Indeed, the HIV prevalence rate decreased from 5.4% in 2004 to 2.7% in 2018. However, the progress remains slow, and HIV prevalence is still high, placing Cameroon at the top among countries in the Central and West Africa (CWA) region bearing the burden of the epidemic, ahead of Nigeria. Despite the progress made in the fight against the HIV epidemic, the country remains in a context of a mixed epidemic (both generalized and concentrated).

In this context, a prevention and care guide for HIV/AIDS in Cameroon has been developed to advance the country’s health policies and meet the 95-95-95 strategy goals.

Objective:
Asses the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of mother to child transmission MTCT protocol within MTCT program

Study outcomes:

Awareness of MTCT Protocols: will reveal the level of awareness among participants about HIV transmission risks during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.

Understanding of MTCT Guidelines: Participants demonstrate a clear understanding of the MTCT protocol, including the importance of HIV testing during pregnancy, the use of antiretroviral treatment (ART), safe delivery methods, and breastfeeding practices.

Perceptions of PTME: Will reveal a general positive/negative attitude towards the MTCT protocol, with participants agreeing on the importance of preventive measures, such as ART and regular HIV testing.

Stigma and Disclosure: Will reveal attitudes towards disclosing HIV status to partners and healthcare workers. It would be important to assess the presence or reduction of stigma associated with HIV-positive mothers.

Trust in Healthcare System: will measure participants’ trust in the healthcare system’s ability to manage HIV in pregnancy, including confidence in following the advice of healthcare providers.

Adoption of Recommended Practices: adhering to the recommended practices for preventing MTCT, including regular antenatal care visits, HIV testing, ART adherence, and following safe breastfeeding or formula-feeding guidelines.

Partner Involvement: The study should reveal whether participants are involving their partners in HIV testing, disclosure, and decision-making regarding PTME protocols.

Postnatal Practices: Participants should show an understanding and adherence to postnatal HIV testing for their infants and follow-up care if necessary.

Use of Family Planning: The study may also reveal the extent to which HIV-positive women use family planning services to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the risk of HIV transmission to future children.

Barriers and Facilitators to MTCT program Adherence

Recommendations for Improving PTME Uptake.