Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS among Student Nurses in Bauchi State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Nigeria

Women with pregnancy that are having human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection have a greater chance of transmitting the virus to their children. Majority of the transmission happens during pregnancy, labour and delivery and during lactation. The health workers, especially, nurse/midwife play a crucial part in prevention of mother to child transmission. The adequate knowledge, attitude and practices of the student nurses assumed to predict effective and efficient prevention of the transmission of the virus. This research assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of student nurses/midwives in the State college of nursing and midwifery Bauchi towards the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS. The study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey with a sample of fifty students’ nurses’/midwives participated in the study analysis. Data was collected through a self-modified questionnaire that measured knowledge, attitude and practices based on percentage. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentages in answering the research questions. The mean age of respondents was 26 ± 2 years. The result of the study shows that many students nurses have low information on PMTCT. However, many sources of information did not indicate significantly to improved knowledge of the participants as shown by their low knowledge on PMTCT of HIV (66.7%). The study further reveals a general negativism in the attitudes (41.8%) of respondents towards prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Greater percentage of the respondents showed a negative attitude towards pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS. The practice of PMTCT was generally very low (56.6%). This study demonstrates that nurses in State college are insufficiently informed on practical issues in the prevention of MTCT of HIV. Hence, are weak to play an effective role in this important aspect of prevention of HIV. Sensitization, capacity building and appropriate clinical settings remain essential for significant outcomes.