Caregivers identify stigmatisation, religious beliefs as major challenges against PMTCT in A/Ibom
Caregivers and health workers in Akwa Ibom State have identified stigmatisation and religious beliefs as major challenges in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT) campaign, saying much is needed to change the mindset of the people.
PMTCT services are offered free in public health institutions and are aimed at ensuring that mothers who are HIV positive give birth to negative births.
Experts say that PMTCT can be used not only to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, but can also ensure the elimination of mother to child transmission of the disease.
Speaking in an interview, the PMTCT focal person, Primary Health Centre, Uyo, Akon Udofia decried the attitude of most pregnant woman for preferring to birth their babies in churches and prayers houses, making it difficult for health workers to know the status of their new born babies.
Udofia, who disclosed that an average of 150 pregnant women were registered monthly for PMTCT services in the health centre, said very few give birth at the centre, blaming it on religious beliefs as some of the women blame their status on “evil attack.”
According to her, despite the high number of pregnant women that attend PMTCT services monthly , less than 20 of them give birth in the health centre every month adding however that strict adherence to medications by some of them have always resulted in the birth of HIV negative babies.
She also identified stigmatisation as another bane in the campaign against Mother to child transmission of HIV saying most of the women are afraid of disclosing their status.
“How many women in our state will openly declare their status, it is still a big challenge when it comes to stigmatisation,’’ she said.
“Most of the women here are afraid to disclose their status. Stigmatisation is still very strong in Akwa Ibom State. This makes it difficult for the PMTCT services to be successful. But all the women that have adhered to treatment do give birth HIV negative babies.”
She advised that there should be a law to prevent pregnant woman from going to prayer houses and churches to be delivered of their babies saying to enable them embrace fully the PMTCT services.
According to her, many faith leaders were fun of asking pregnant woman to move to their churches and prayer houses once it was time for the woman to give birth saying that despite counselling and advice by health workers, pregnant women have always remained adamant. She also said some of them after being tested and found to be positive, do not agree to take their drugs as advised by health workers preferring to blame their status on diabolical powers.
“The health worker can do nothing when a pregnant woman decides against taking her drugs and resorting to prayers,’’ she said.
She however expressed delight about some women who though being HIV positive have given birth to children who are negative maintaining that if “ the women are ready to use their drugs, PMTCT would be achieved in the state.’’