Abstract:
Background: Maternal-to-Child transmission of HIV is responsible for about 20% of all HIV
transmissions and more than 90% of worldwide paediatrics HIV infections. Without any preventive
interventions, nearly 50% of HIV positive mothers will transmit HIV to their children during
pregnancy, labour and breastfeeding.
Objective: This study was to assess prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV service
utilization and its associated factors among pregnant women attending ante natal care in health centers
of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Using Health Belief Model.
Method: Institution based cross sectional study design supplemented with qualitative study was
conducted in randomly selected pregnant women from September 1-30/2013 in health centers in
Addis Ababa. A total of 308 pregnant mothers counselled in ante natal care follow up were included
in the study .Both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used through face to face
interview. Bivariate analysis was conducted to investigate the association between each independent
variable and the outcome variable for each study group. Variables that had statistically significant
association at p-value of <0.25 were analysed together by controlling their confounding effects to
each other and also multiple logistic regression value of <0.05 was considered to establish statistical
association. Qualitative data was analysed by thematic approach. Finally the data from quantitative
and qualitative was triangulated.
Result: Out of 301 women interviewed 172(57.1%) had get message about Prevention of mother to
child transmission of HIV and 166(55.1%) not utilized prevention of mother to child transmission of
HIV. Utilization of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV service by pregnant women
were significantly associated with age group 26-30 years, AOR=2.648, 95 %CL (1.186, 5.911) and
marital status which is widowed, AOR=0.101, 95%CL (0.012, 0.841). Most women 172(57.1%) had
low perceived susceptibility to HIV, 160(53.2%) had low perceived benefit and 169(56.1%) had low
perceived barrier. Among the perception characteristics perceived barrier, AOR=0.479, 95%CL
(0.276, 0.833) and perceived self efficacy, AOR=2.439, 95%CL (1.427, 4.167) had independent
significant association with utilization of PMTCT service.
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study has found that more than half of the study subjects
utilize prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV service. Prevention and control program on
HIV, mother to child transmission, such as health education and promotion on HIV transmission,
prevention, mother to child transmission, and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV
should be given in all health facilities so as to increase the number of clients using PMTCT service.
