Knowledge about HIV, HBV and HCV modes of transmission among pregnant women in Nampula – Mozambique

ABSTRACT

The assessment of pregnant women's knowledge about modes of infections transmission is essential to tailor programs to their needs. This study aimed to assess knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among pregnant women in Nampula – Mozambique, a high-risk area for sexually transmitted infections. At their first antenatal visit, women were invited to participate and data were collected by trained nurses at six public health facilities. Knowledge about HIV transmission modes was high but relevant misconceptions remained. However, knowledge regarding HBV and HCV transmission modes was very limited. There was a significant association between knowledge level and socioeconomic position, making education and women's empowerment key factors in a comprehensive strategy to prevent infections.

KEYWORDS:

• Africa
• pregnant women
• modes of transmission
• HIV infection
• viral hepatitis

Acknowledgments

The authors thank to the team of interviewers for their collaboration on this project. We acknowledge the contributions from FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation, and by national funds of FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia), under the scope of the Research Unit of Epidemiology – Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto (EPIUnit) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862; Ref. UID/DTP/04750/2013). PhD Grant SFRH/BD/112867/2015 (Paula Meireles) co-funded by the FCT and the POCH/FSE Program and the Postdoc grant SFRH/BPD/97015/2013 (Silvia Fraga), co-funded by the FCT and the POCH/FSE Program.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Paula Meireles http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9055-7491

Sílvia Fraga http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5268-7751

Henrique Barros http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4699-6571

Additional information

Funding

The Universidade de Lúrio received funding for this study from the Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I. P. and from Fundo Nacional de Investigação (projecto nr 134-Inv/FNI).