Original Research
Knowledge and attitudes about HIV infection and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in an urban, low income community in Durban, South Africa: Perspectives of residents and health care volunteers
Submitted: 10 October 2017 | Published: 11 October 2016
About the author(s)
Firoza Haffejee, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Durban University of Technology, South AfricaKatie A. Ports, Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
Maghboeba Mosavel, Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
Full Text:
PDF (265KB)Abstract
Method: Female residents (n = 67) from Kenneth Gardens, a low income community in Durban, South Africa were interviewed. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 health care volunteers who were either health care workers or residents who provided some form of social support in the community.
Results: The majority of respondents indicated that a mother could transmit HIV to her child but were unable to specify how. Many women had general HIV/AIDS knowledge but were unable to identify essential prevention behaviours and were not very receptive to more information on HIV/AIDS. They were supportive of routine testing procedures and child bearing amongst HIV positive women. Health care volunteers indicated a need for a community clinic in the area.They also had limited knowledge of PMTCT and indicated that there was a need for more education on HIV, particularly to encourage the youth and men to use preventative measures.
Conclusion: Innovative ways to impart knowledge particularly of PMTCT and updated standards of practice are essential. It is important that the community understands how transmission occurs so that prevention can follow.
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Crossref Citations
1. Male circumcision for HIV prevention: female risk compensatory behaviour in South Africa
Clare Greevy, Rebecca King, Firoza Haffejee
AIDS Care vol: 30 issue: 9 first page: 1083 year: 2018
doi: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1476658