Status and awareness of HIV/AIDS among antenatal Indian women

Pages: 358-361
Leema, P. Vanamail, Rohini Sehgal and Alka Kriplani (Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, AIIMS, New Delhi)

To achieve the goal of HIV free generation, it is essential to prevent the mother to child transmission. Aim of this study is to assess the level of understanding and status of HIV(human immunodeficiency virus)/AIDS(acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) among antenatal women in a tertiary health care centre New Delhi. It is an observational study with purposive sampling method.100 consented interviews were conducted by a semi structure interview schedule during the gestational period of (16-28) weeks of pregnancy. Maximum study participants belonged to the age group of (26-30) years mean age (26.3) SD 3.5years ranges from (19-36) years and major religion was Hindu. More than 50% respondents were professionals or graduates & postgraduates.54% women were multigravida as they conceived more than once. Mean family income was 24,270 per month (SD 21,714) it ranges from 4000 to 1 lac per month. Only 31% women knew HIV as a virus which causes AIDS, where as more than 53% participants had a correct concept about AIDS as disesase.58% respondents did not exactly know about HIV &37% about AIDS. 30% of pregnant mothers thought that breast milk could transmit HIV to infants but equal number of mothers’ disagreed with the above said source of transmission.40% participants were in a state of dilemma about the breast milk and vaginal discharge as a carrier of HIV virus. All 100 pregnant women were screened for HIV ,but two of them did not get their test reports at the , time of interview. Out of 98 cases 4 were seropositive*. Two women knew their status before pregnancy, one case was referred from a primary health centre ,only one case was diagnosed during the routine pregnancy care.39 spouses were screened with their consent out of which 2 diagnosed sero positive.* In one case both husband &wife were seropositive but in another case wife found to be seronegative Statistically significant association was found between education of respondents, their family income and gravida. Our study concludes that education is the best tool to prevent the vertical transmission. Fear of social stigma about HIV/AIDS discourages people to consult medical practitoners & cousellors.HIV discordant couple can coexist. Breast feeding to infants by HIV infected mother is still a matter of quandary. Women with higher family income had satisfactory knowledge about HIV/AIDS.