8/14/2019 Research Findings (STF & CORE/CARE): PMTCT and
Ugandan Youth
1/1
Prevention Of Mother To Child HIV Transmission Not Understood
By
Young People In Uganda
roduction
RE/CARE and Straight Talk Foundation have a youth HIV
vention program. Targets engaged and newly married youth
-24 years) in Busoga and Kupsabiny regions. Aimed at
powering beneficiaries to adopt HIV prevention strategies
MTCT, VCT and ABY).
erventional activities
cal language radio shows (30minutes weekly radio showsed in
respective local language)
erpersonal counseling sessions:
ome generation activities: (STF gave formed listenership
bs animals and birds)
search hypothesis
part of larger program evaluation, STF conducted anassessment on
youths aware-
ss about PMTCT and VCT HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. Results
were to be incor-
ated into STF HIV prevention program for engaged and newly
married youths
ta
A total of 327 youths aged 15-27 years interviewed.
50% males and 50% females
19% urban and 81% rural youths.
53% married and 47% engaged youths.
5.2% never attended school.
ethodology:
A household survey using oral interviews
Two districts randomly sampled from two interventional regions.
Kamuli (109), Jinja
(110) and Kapchorwa (108) districts.
Households purposively selected with guidance of local
leaders.Each household had one eligible respondent, purposively
selected.
Data entered in EPIDATA and further processed using SPSS
computer programs.
sults
uth who could spontaneously mention MTC as one of HIV
transmission modes.
e second leading HIV transmission mode responsible for high
pediatric HIV
ections in Uganda.
Access and utilization of VCT services by youth.
56% of young people knew of a place where they could
obtain VCT services.
Only 13.1% mentioned VCT as one of HIV prevention
strategies.
39.8% had ever performed an HIV test.
88.5% of those had managed to pick their results.
15.4% tested with influence of a partner.
Time taken for young people to decide on taking an HIV test
Lessons learnt.
Ugandan youths have insufficient knowledge on prevention of
mother to child H
transmission. A few
could spontaneously mention it as one of the HIV
transmission modes.
Nevertheless, the consciousness and uptake of VCT
services is poor. These are youths in the productive age
and prepared to prevent HIV infections amongst
themselves and their children. This would reduce on
pediatric HIV infections in country.
The research provides pertinent information that would be
used by HIV prevention programs targeting youths.
Youth awareness on mother to child HIV mechanism.
75.5
52.6
19
11.9
during child delivery breastfeading during pregnancy Didnt
know
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Graph 2. Mother to child HIV transmission mechanism knownto the
youth
Percent
Youth awareness on MTC HIV prevention strategies.
unprotected sex
99.1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
88.4
48.341.6
Sharing instruments Blood contamination MTC
Percent
Graph 1. Youth understanding of HIV transmission modes : a few
aware of MTC
Taking ARVs not
breastfeedingadequate
antenatal
HIV testing
before
Safe sex Dont know
51.4
46.5
40.1
31.8
10.112.8
Graph 3: Youth understanding of how a mother can reduce the risk
of HIV
transmission to her baby
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
Percent
33.5
27.9
12.7
7.6 7.15.6
2.5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Percent
Fear toreceiveresults
No need totest
Not aware oftesting center
processmoney
consuming
Hope to testin future
Never thought
about itWaiting for
partner
Graph 5: Why youth do not perform HIV tests
Why some youth had never taken an HIV test.
Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, Kampala, P. O. Box 22366, Tel:
+256 (031) 262030/1,
Fax: +256 414 534858, E-mail: [email protected],
[email protected]
Evelyn Namubiru Tondo, Walugembe Patrick Straight Talk
Foundation Uganda
