Prevalence and correlates of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis knowledge among intrapartum patients and health care providers in Kabul, Afghanistan

Abstract

Little is known about blood-borne infection awareness and knowledge among obstetric populations and health care providers in Afghanistan. HIV and hepatitis B awareness and knowledge are described among 4452 intrapartum patients completing an interviewer-administered questionnaire and whole-blood rapid testing and 123 obstetric care providers completing a questionnaire between June 2006 and September 2006. Participants were enrolled from three Kabul public maternity hospitals. Most participants were aware of HIV (50.8% of patients and 95.9% of providers) and hepatitis (72.1% of patients and 91.1% of providers). Correct transmission knowledge (defined as naming three correct routes and no incorrect routes) was lower for both groups (HIV: 19.4% for patients and 59.7% for providers; hepatitis B: 1.90% for patients and 33.9% for providers). Correct HIV transmission knowledge among providers was independently associated with level of education (AOR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.20–2.55). While HIV and hepatitis B awareness is common, correct and comprehensive knowledge is not. Continuing education for providers and health communications strategies should address identified knowledge gaps.

Keywords:

• Afghanistan
• antenatal population
• provider knowledge
• comprehensive HIV knowledge
• hepatitis B

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Ministry of Public Health and the directors of the three maternity hospitals, Drs Najia Tariq, Najeeba Seeamak, Nafisa Nassiry, and Hafiza Amarkhail and their staff for permitting and facilitating the study activities. We acknowledge the efforts of our local advisory group (Dr Kavitha Viswanathan, Dr Malika Popol, Ms Sheena Currie, Dr Linda Bartlett, and Dr Naqib Safi) on instrument design and translation. We thank Drs Mark Appelbaum and J. Allen McCutchan for their guidance on result interpretation. We appreciate the diligent work of our study representatives and support staff. Last, we thank the participants for their time and trust. This study was funded by the Fogarty International Center of the United States National Institutes of Health (1K01TW007408-01). The test kits for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis were donated by the Global Fund Management Unit of the Ministry of Public Health through funding from the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis.