Factors Influencing Provision of Antenatal Care to HIV Exposed Pregnant Women in Health Care Facilities in Ondo State

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a public health issue as it’s a leading cause of death worldwide among women of reproductive age. In order to improve health outcome, individual and family related factors must be addressed. The study identified factors influencing the provision of antenatal care services to pregnant women living with HIV in Ondo state A pretested questionnaire was used to elicit responses from 135 HIV exposed pregnant women using a multi-stage sampling technique and in-depth interview for 8 midwives in Ondo state. Results showed that long waiting time (94.8%, mean 4.5±0.7), far distance from health care (63.7%, 3.6±0.7) facility, cost of drugs (74.8%, 3.8±0.9) non-understanding of test results are barriers to the use of ANC services, few numbers of midwives (97% mean 4.6±0.7). There was a statistically significant relationship between number of midwives attending to pregnant women resulting into long waiting time and quality of ANC services with p<0.05 at 95% CI. Self-stigmatization by pregnant women living with HIV is a major factor as they presume everyone is aware of their status despite high level of confidentiality. It is recommended that more midwives should be employed into the health sector and psychologists should join in counseling against self-stigmatization