Abstract:

Background: Progress towards achievement of global target for prevention of mother-to – child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and pediatric HIV care treatment is an integral part of global and national HIV and AIDS responses. Toward attaining that goal there is significant increases the number of countries reporting PMTCT coverage increased increased from 53 in 2003 to over 130 in 2015.studies shows that adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 contribute a disproportionate- 30% of all new infections and seroconvert 5-7 years earlier than than their male peer. This age sex disparity in HIV acquisition continues to sustain unprecedentedly high incidence rates, and preventing HIV infection in this age group is a pre- requisite for achieving an AIDS- free generation and attaining epidemic control.

Objective: to assess the knowledge and attitude toward PMTCT of HIV among female student at TIA Mwanza at TIA Mwanza campus 2018.

Method: community based descriptive cross section study was conducted at TIA Mwanza campus April 2019. Simple convenient sampling techniques was used to select participants who fulfil the inclusion criteria and data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: a total of 89 participant were interviewed with mean age of the 23.81 with standard deviation of 2.81 ranging from 19 through 32. Student women aged 16-25 showed to have large number of participation 82 %( 73) compared to other age group. Most of them are null- parity of 77.5% (60) single 85.4 %( 76) not employed 88.8 %( 79), with many of them knowledge and attitudes towards PMTCT. Mostly have moderate level of knowledge 50.6 %( 45), low level of knowledge 19.1 %( 17) and for high level of knowledge 30.3% (27). The level of attitudes of respondents for those 60% are 49.4% (44) represent poor attitudes, good attitudes 60%-79% are 16.9%(15) and best attitudes scored more than 80% are 33.7 (30).

Conclusion: PMTCT has become so helpful in reducing the number of death and morbidity of the mothers and their children in the extent that they are able to live normal life and become productive to the community. Increasing the knowledge and attitudes to all level in the society will enhance the improvement and best progression of the program.