Knowledge about HIV, HBV and HCV modes of transmission among pregnant women in Nampula – Mozambique

Abstract

The assessment of pregnant women's knowledge about modes of infections transmission is essential to tailor programs to their needs. This study aimed to assess knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among pregnant women in Nampula - Mozambique, a high-risk area for sexually transmitted infections. At their first antenatal visit, women were invited to participate and data were collected by trained nurses at six public health facilities. Knowledge about HIV transmission modes was high but relevant misconceptions remained. However, knowledge regarding HBV and HCV transmission modes was very limited. There was a significant association between knowledge level and socioeconomic position, making education and women's empowerment key factors in a comprehensive strategy to prevent infections.

Knowledge Gaps of STIs in Africa; Systematic review

“…Fifty one included studies assessed the awareness of 1,235,811 Africans in regard to HIV in total of 35 countries, eleven studies were conducted in Nigeria [14,16,83,17,18,23,38,48,60,63,81] , nine in South Africa [24,27,29,34,37,42,46,82,84] , five in each of Ghana [19,31,65,66,68] and Ethiopia [21,73,77,78,80] , four in Uganda [13,55,72,75] , three in Mozambique [22,26,30] , two in each of Namibia [45,76] and Cameroon [59,67] , one in each of Congo [25] , Sudan [33] , Senegal [39] , Morocco [47] , Gambia [50] , Tanzania [53] , Madagascar [71] and Egypt [74] while a study provided awareness prevalence in 33 countries [8] . The conduction of the studies ranged from 2010 to 2017.…”

“…The study participants’ age were equal or less than 25 years in thirteen HIV-related included studies, representing a total population of 5,908 participants; five studies were conducted in Nigeria [14,16–18,63] , three in Ghana [19,31,66] , two in Mozambique [26,30] , and one in each of Cameroon [59] , Madagascar [71] and Uganda [72] . Majority of studies were toward students and adolescents (11/13) while two studies were conducted among pregnant women.…”

“…Chaquisse and colleagues in their recently published study (2018) determined women’s age as not significantly associated with HIV and HBV knowledge. Moreover, they determined that to have heard about HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, was associated with better knowledge about HIV transmission modes [26] .…”

“…Fourteen included studies assessed the awareness of 9,446 Africans in regard to HBV, three studies were conducted in each of Nigeria [61,62,64] , Cameroon [20,40,58] and Ghana [12,15,28] , two in Ethiopia [32,52] , one in each of Kenya, Mozambique and Madagascar [26,57,71] . The oldest among the study included was conducted in 2010 while the newest was conducted in 2016 (Table 1).…”

“…Six included studies assessed the awareness of 2,306 Africans in regard to HCV, two studies were conducted in Egypt [74,79] and one in each of Ghana [15] , Mozambique [26] , Ethiopia [32] and Madagascar [71] . The oldest among the study included was conducted after 2010 while the newest was conducted in 2015 (Table 1).…”