Knowledge of HIV testing and prevention of mother-to-child transmission among pregnant women, Tripoli -Libya: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background HIV infection is a major public health concern, especially among pregnant women. Early diagnosis and treatment of HIV can help to prevent transmission of the virus to babies. However, many pregnant women are not aware of their HIV status or do not receive timely testing. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS attending ANC at healthcare centers in Tripoli. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in five healthcare centers for pregnant women attending ANC follow-up centers. The women were asked about their knowledge of HIV testing and mother-to-child transmission. Results This study showed that less than half of all pregnant women (47.9%) reported having been knowledgeable to be tested for HIV, which was a low percentage. The Internet was the primary source of information about HIV/AIDS for 28.2% of the respondents. Almost all pregnant women (98.2%) said they knew about HIV/AIDS. As well as (52.3%) understood how HIV/AIDS could be transmitted from mother to child and the role of antiretroviral drugs. And 71.6% believed that the tests were effective at reducing transmission from mother to child. Conclusion Pregnant women were found to have a low level of knowledge in this study. Knowledge must be transformed into action to make a difference. Therefore, health service organizations and other responsible bodies should implement activities that can promote behavioral change. Healthcare providers need to educate pregnant women about the importance of HIV testing and remove obstacles that prevent women from getting tested.