Knowledge, Preventive Practices and Risk Perception of HIV Infection among Pregnant Women in a Rural Community of Igbagu, Izzi LGA, Ebonyi State Nigeria

Aims: To determine the knowledge, risk and the risk perception predictors of HIV infection among pregnant women in a rural community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study of rural pregnant women.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted over 11 months (August 2016 – June 2017), in Igbagu community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Nigeria

Methodology: A total of 443 pregnant women on antenatal clinic booking visit were consecutively recruited. A semi structured questionnaire adapted from a validated WHO generic questionnaire on HIV/PMTCT was administered by the interviewer.

Data analysis was done using SPSS for window version 22 and p-value was set at P< 0.05

Results: HIV awareness level was 68.2% among the pregnant women without promting. Less than a quarter (20.3%) reported that they were not at risk of HIV infection. About half of the pregnant womens’ spouses had been counseled for HIV while 36.1% were reported to have received the test. Only 14.2% of the pregnant women had adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS. None of the women had ever received blood transfusion nor engaged in injection drug use. Age, occupation, educational status, having discussed HIV with someone, awareness of HIV Counseling and Testing and sex partner’s HIV test status had statistical significant association with appropriate HIV infection risk perception. Being a seamstress, above 30 years of age, having discussed HIV with someone and being aware of HIV were significant predictors of appropriate HIV infection risk perception.

Conclusion: HIV/AIDS knowledge and appropriate risk perception were low among the rural women. This emphasizes the need for strengthening and prioritizing community-wide engagement and enlightenment on transmission, prevention and treatment of HIV with increased focus on PMTCT especially in rural areas.