Chotta Nikolas A S, Msuya Sia E, Mgongo Melina, Hashim Tamara H, Stray-Pedersen Arne
Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
Better Health for African Mother and Child (BHAMC), Moshi, Tanzania.
Int J Pediatr. 2020 Jul 7;2020:7546954. doi: 10.1155/2020/7546954. eCollection 2020.
Infections transmitted from mother to child (MTCT) during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding contribute significantly to the high infant and childhood morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan African countries. The most significant and preventable of these include HIV, syphilis, and rubella. To achieve elimination, mothers need to be aware of and to understand effective preventive measures against these infections. Lack of comprehensive knowledge on transmission and prevention of MTCT infections is one of the factors hindering achievement of the elimination goals for these infections. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of HIV, syphilis, rubella, and associated factors among mothers in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.
We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in three districts of the Kilimanjaro region from September to October 2016. The study involved mothers with children up to five years of age. Data collection involved the use of a questionnaire, administered by face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess predictors of mothers' knowledge on MTCT infections.
A total of 618 mothers were recruited, with a mean age of 29.6 (SD 7.6) years. The overall knowledge on MTCT infections was low. The highest level of knowledge on MTCT infections was regarding HIV (89.2%). Fewer mothers had knowledge of syphilis (27.8%). Rubella was the least known; only 12% of mothers were aware of rubella infection. District of residence and having knowledge of syphilis were predictors for rubella knowledge, while for syphilis knowledge, significant predictors were age group, occupation, and those having knowledge on HIV and rubella. Predictors for HIV knowledge were residential district, having a mobile phone, and those having knowledge of syphilis and rubella.
This study confirmed that mothers have low overall knowledge on MTCT infections. To achieve the MTCT elimination goals, targeted interventions to improve knowledge among women of childbearing age are recommended.
在撒哈拉以南非洲国家，孕期、分娩期及哺乳期母婴传播（MTCT）感染是导致婴儿及儿童高发病率和高死亡率的重要因素。其中最主要且可预防的感染包括艾滋病毒、梅毒和风疹。为实现消除这些感染的目标，母亲们需要了解并掌握针对这些感染的有效预防措施。缺乏关于母婴传播感染的传播及预防的全面知识是阻碍实现这些感染消除目标的因素之一。本研究的目的是评估坦桑尼亚乞力马扎罗地区母亲们对艾滋病毒、梅毒、风疹及其相关因素的了解情况。
2016年9月至10月，我们在乞力马扎罗地区的三个区开展了一项基于社区的横断面研究。该研究纳入了育有5岁及以下儿童的母亲。数据收集采用通过面对面访谈进行问卷调查的方式。采用逻辑回归分析来评估母亲们对母婴传播感染知识的预测因素。
共招募了618名母亲，平均年龄为29.6（标准差7.6）岁。母亲们对母婴传播感染的总体了解程度较低。对母婴传播感染了解程度最高的是艾滋病毒（89.2%）。了解梅毒的母亲较少（27.8%）。风疹是最不为人所知的；只有12%的母亲知晓风疹感染。居住地区和了解梅毒是风疹知识的预测因素，而对于梅毒知识，显著的预测因素是年龄组、职业以及了解艾滋病毒和风疹的母亲。艾滋病毒知识的预测因素是居住地区、拥有手机以及了解梅毒和风疹的母亲。
本研究证实母亲们对母婴传播感染的总体了解程度较低。为实现母婴传播感染的消除目标，建议采取针对性干预措施以提高育龄妇女的知识水平。
