The purpose of the study is to investigate and identify the factors that affect utilisation of prevention mother to
child transmission of HIV services and propose measures to promote utilisation of services by HIV positive
pregnant women in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV accounts for over
90% of infections in children under 15 years. Infected pregnant women can pass on the infection to their babies
during pregnancy, delivery or through breastfeeding. There are effective interventions now reduce of the infection
to the baby. However some infected women still do not avail themselves of these services due to several
reasons.
A quantitative descriptive study, using the Health Belief Model as the conceptual framework was used to
conduct the research. A structured interview schedule was used to interview 102 pregnant women at two
health facilities in Onitsha, Anambra state, Nigeria.
The findings from the study reveal that majority of the respondents knew about HIV transmission but not
about ways the infection can be transmitted from mother-to-child. The respondents recognise that HIV/AIDS
is a very serious threat in Nigeria and the study site and were of the opinion that all pregnant women should
know their HIV status. The attitude of health care workers and fears about disclosure of HIV status to others
was a setback. Revealing their status to the spouse was feared.