Factors Determining the Prevalence of HIV Among HIV Exposed Infants in Ishaka Adventist Hospital

ABSTRACT Introduction:

HIV is a viral infection that is primarily transmitted by sexual contact or sharing needles, or from an infected pregnant woman to her newborn. Despite the PMTCT services that involve screening of mothers with HIV and administration of Anti-retroviral drugs to HIV-infected mothers and exposed infants coupled with early infant diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and care of diagnosed infants with HIV children continue to die of the epidemic. Broad objective: To determine the HIV prevalence among HIV-exposed infants in Dhaka Adventist hospital. Method: A cross-sectional study focused on HIV-exposed infants brought to the EID clinic of Ishaka Adventist Hospital from Bushenyi, Mitooma, Rubirizi and Buhweju districts. Results: The summary of the main findings of the study was highlighted and discussed. 89% of the mothers had ever heard about PMTCT and its importance and 11% had never had about it. 51% of the mothers were aware of the services offered during PMTCT among them including HIV counselling and testing for pregnant mothers for safe delivery. 58% said the child acquires the virus at birth while 33% said the child acquires the virus while still in the uterus and 7% said during breastfeeding. Hence, this raised awareness about feeding options in which 80%had ideas about feeding options among mothers who are HIV positive, only 16% did not know about any option and only 4% were confused. Discussion: Most mothers 54% were housewives, this shows that poverty is a factor that contributes to the prevalence of HIV among mothers and their infants because pregnant mothers who are HIV positive cannot seek PMTCT services or clinic because she has no money. 16% were businesswomen, 7% peasants and others were 14%. Married mothers were most affected with 60% due to unfaithfulness and the least affected mothers had separated with 5%. 54% were Banyankole because they are the inhabitants or residents of the study area. Catholics were 48%, 20 % were protestants, 2% other religions. Recommendations: Government should encourage health education on PMTCT services, people should be checked medically, health services should be brought nearer to the people and people should be encouraged to test for HIV regularly.