OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the uptake and adherence to single dose nevirapine among HIV positive mothers.

DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The maternal and child health and family planning (MCH-FP) clinics in Kitale district hospital, Western Kenya.

SUBJECTS

HIV positive postnatal women attending MCH-FP clinic who had gone through the PMTCT programme.

RESULTS

A total of 146 respondents were recruited for this study. Most (90%) of them reported swallowing their nevirapine tablets, however only 55 swallowed their tablets within 4-12 hours before delivery. The most important factor affecting nevirapine adherence was place or delivery (p<0.05). Most (71%) of mothers who did not swallow their nevirapine delivered at home. Women attending ANC for two times or less young women under 20 years of age and single women were also less likely to swallow their nevirapine (p < 0.05). Most (91%) of the babies received their nevirapine syrup with 98% of them getting it within 72 hours of delivery. Eighty eight percent of babies who did not take their nevirapine were delivered at home. Babies whose mothers did not take their nevirapine were also more likely to miss it.

CONCLUSIONS

Self reported adherence to take home nevirapine is high. However mothers who deliver in a health facility were more likely to access nevirapine both for themselves and their babies than those delivering at home.