Abstract:
Aim: This study aimed at accessing the knowledge and acceptance of women receiving Antenatal care (ANC) at the
Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) to the concept of Provider Initiated HIV Testing and Counselling (PITC) during
antenatal care and in Labour, as a departure from e Client Initiated Counseling and Testing(CICT) or Voluntary Counseling and
Testing(VCT). Issues /Background: Nigeria has a huge Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) gap and strategies
need to change to identify and prevent new infections. Since voluntary HIV testing in ANC settings still has a low yield, it is
necessary for health workers to initiate HIV testing and expand testing to women in labour and those that delivered. The study
was aimed at assessing clients’ acceptability of PITC. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to 170 women
attending antenatal clinic in JUTH to evaluate their views about PITC. Findings were analyzed with the Epi Info Statistical
Package. Results: The age range was 17-46 years, 52.9% were Christians and 47.1% were Moslems; 35.5% were housewives
and 24.7% were students. One lady was single, 169 (99.4%) were married. Some 41.8% had tertiary education, 29.4% had
secondary; others had primary and informal education. Pregnant women constituted 92.4% while 7.6% were post-natal. About
94.7% were aware of HCT and 87.1% had done the test. Some 93.5% affirmed benefits and 96.5% supported testing. Regarding
PITC in labour, 87.9% felt it was beneficial if women had not tested before, others felt she should be left because of pains. About
74.1% indicated babies could benefit from preventive intervention if mothers tested positive in labour, 19.4% didn’t know and
6.5% said the baby could not be helped. Husbands of 98.1% had approved their testing, but three (1.9%) were disallowed. About
90% felt women that previously tested negative should be retested,5% felt that it was unnecessary and 4.1% didn’t know while
68.5% felt test should be discouraged regards causing marital disharmony. A total of 168 (98.5%) encouraged the test while 2
(1.5%) said they discourage people from taking the test. PITC should not be offered women faithful to spouse while 94.1% felt
the test should be offered to people who don’t look ill while 3.6% felt it shouldn’t. Conclusion: Awareness of HIV screening in
pregnancy and labour is high among our antenatal population, but not all accept HCT. There is need for continuing health
education regarding PITC , male involvement and couple counseling.
