Determinants of comprehensive knowledge of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and its prevention among Zimbabwean women: Analysis of 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Introduction: The global burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has significantly decreased; however, new HIV infections decline slowly; this poses challenges to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.3. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV contributes to about 6.4% of all new pediatric HIV infections in Zimbabwe. Women’s comprehensive knowledge of MTCT of HIV and its prevention is associated with poor utilization of MTCT services and therefore new pediatric HIV infections. We use Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2015 to measure determinants of correct comprehensive knowledge of MTCT and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)of HIV in Zimbabwe.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of 2015 DHS among 9955 women at reproductive age. Correct comprehensive knowledge of MTCT and PMTCT was measured as a composite score of five questions. We used weighing factors to account for the two-stage cluster sampling technique. Frequencies and relative frequencies were used to measure sociodemographic factors of women; we employed bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine determinants of correct comprehensive knowledge of MTCT and PMTCT.

Results: About 70.5% of women have correct comprehensive knowledge of MTCT and PMTCT. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors strongly associated with correct comprehensive knowledge were age of women (where 15–19 years have lower adjusted odds ratio [AOR] than other age groups), residing in Mashonaland central, Masvingo, Harare, and Bulawayo provinces (p < 0.005), and receiving posttest counseling after HIV test (AOR = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–1.98, p = 0.007). However, Christian women were less likely to have such knowledge (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.37–0.88, p = 0.012).

Discussion: 30% of women at reproductive age in Zimbabwe lack correct comprehensive knowledge of MTCT and its prevention. Such knowledge is associated with demographic factors such as age, religion, provinces, and receiving post-test counseling. The fact that MTCT of HIV still poses a challenge in the country, interventions toward the elimination of new newborn HIV infections should consider these factors.