000			03292nam a22001697a 4500
008			210820b |||||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aHawa, Mpunji _dCUHAS/6000009/T/10 _922624
245			_aThe influence of disclosure of HIV status on the choice of infant feeding practices among HIV positive mothers with Infants in Kinondoni Municipal, Dar es Salaam
260			_aMwanza, Tanzania: _bSt. Augustine University of Tanzania _c©2011
300			_axv; 57 Pages
300			_aIncludes References and Appendices
520			_aAbstract: Background: Disclosure of HIV status is an important preventive strategy emphasized by the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on HIV testing and counseling. It is critical to HIV prevention because it allows the individual to gain social support for preventive actions. In PMCT settings, healthcare workers are increasingly faced with challenges that occur with low rates of HIV status disclosure. This creates a barrier to prevent mother to child transmission especially in adherence to appropriate infant feeding choices. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the influence of disclosure of HIV status on the choice of infant feeding options and the barriers to disclosure HIV status among HIV positive women, with infants in Kinondoni Municipality Dar-es-salaam. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted using interviewer administered structured questionnaire with 179 women at three PMTCT clinics. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: Of 179 women, 118 (65.9%) have disclosed their HIV status. Disclosure of HIV status was associated with infant feeding options (p-value O.025). Women who have disclosure their HIV status were more likely to opt for exclusive breastfeeding as compared to mixed feeding practice (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11 – 4.04, p-value 0.022). The major reason for not disclosing their HIV status was fear of stigma. In a logistic regression analysis, not initiated their HIV status was fear of stigma. In a logistic regression analysis, not initiated ARV (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.9, 95% CI = 5.95, p-value 0.004), Change of original feeding intention (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.38 – 5.50, p-value 0.004) and adherence to cultural infant feeding practices (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.19 – 4.73, p-value 0.045) were retained as determinant barriers to disclose HIV status. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a HIV status disclosure rate is low. Women who disclose their HIV status are likely to opt for exclusive breastfeeding while those who do not disclose their HIV status are likely to practice mixed feeding. Changing the original feeding intention, lack of infant feeding counseling after delivery and adherence to cultural infant feeding practices were main barriers to disclose HIV status. Therefore, providing education and other supports to women regarding disclosure should be an important component in programs targeted to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child. By providing such support, there could be a significant impact on decreasing mother to child transmission HIV.
600			_xPublic Health _930696
700			_aSamuel E. Kalluvya _922747
700			_aBenson Kidenya _922050
942			_2ddc _cMP
999			_c18348 _d18348