Addressing Prevention Among HIV-Uninfected Women in PMTCT Programs in South India

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2018 Jan-Feb;29(1):45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2017.10.006. Epub 2017 Nov 4.

Abstract

With nearly one million HIV-infected women in India, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs serve an important role. While PMTCT programs focus on mothers living with HIV infection, offering them to uninfected pregnant women may prevent maternal HIV infections. To inform future efforts to offer PMTCT programs to uninfected women, we conducted focus groups with 24 uninfected women in the South Indian state of Karnataka who had given birth within the previous 2 years to explore their perceptions and experiences about HIV education and screening during pregnancy. Although all the participants had undergone HIV testing at a public health facility during pregnancy, they reported little knowledge about HIV transmission or prevention. Revisions are needed in existing PMTCT program curricula and instruction methods before they can be offered to uninfected women as an HIV prevention strategy.

Keywords: HIV prevention; India; health care; prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • India
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control*
  • Pregnant Women / education*
  • Prenatal Care
  • Young Adult