Background: The World Health Organization [WHO] recommends feeding practices for infant born from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected mothers to be safe to both the infant and the mothers. This includes prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of the virus and at the same time meeting nutritional requirements of the child. This requires prioritizing prevention of HIV transmission through breastfeeding against non-HIV morbidity and mortality especially from malnutrition and serious illness such as diarrhea among no breastfed (1). So many women believe that breastfeeding facilitate transmission of HIV from mother to the baby and so counteract this problem, many women stop breastfeed their baby exclusively for fear that they will get HIV. Therefore, this study aimed to determine knowledge and perception of EBF among HIV positive first-time mothers in SRRH and BMC, Tanzania.
Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and perception of EBF among HIV positive first-time mothers who attend CTC clinics and labor at SRRH and BMC.
Methodology: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted to examine HIV positive first-time mothers about knowledge and perception toward EBF at SRRH and BMC. Simple random sampling technique was done to obtain 169 participants. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, which collected information on demographic variables as well as the level of knowledge. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.
Results: A total of 169 participants participated in the study, 100(59.1%) participants were from Shinyanga Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH) and 69 participants were from Bugando Medical Centre (BMC). SRRH were more than half 100(59.1%) of all participants. Based on age groups, the mean age of participant was 26.6+_ 5.4 years old. The overall knowledge of the participants on this study was 65.1% and there is a significant association among two variables which are level of education and Hospital were participants used to attend with the individual knowledge on EBF among HIV positive first-time mothers.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates some knowledge concerning EBF among HIV positive First-time mothers in BMC and SRRH participants. But there is a need of innovative strategies to strengthen community education that would be a worthwhile in support of maternal and child especially to HIV positive first-time mothers. Also, training and educational programs concerning benefits of EBF and ANC visit among HIV positive first-time mothers.