Knowledge about mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) and its determinants among reproductive age (15-49 years) women in Ethiopia: multi regional based study

INTRODUCTION: New Human Immune Virus (HIV) infection among children is a global issue. Ethiopia is among the ten countries in the world with the highest-burden of HIV infections. This could be related to poor knowledge of women towards mother-to-child transmission of HIV. METHODS: Stratified two-stage cluster sampling was performed to analyze secondary data from a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in Ethiopia from January 18 to June 27, 2016. There are nine regional states (Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambelia, Harari, Oromia, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNP) and Tigray) and two city administrations (Addis Ababa and Dire-Dawa) were involved in the study. Samples of Enumeration areas (EAs) were selected independently in each stratum in two stages. Firstly, a total of 645 EAs (202 in urban areas and 443 in rural areas) were selected with probability proportional to EA size. The target group was all reproductive-age women (15-49 years) in the selected enumeration areas (26). Data was extracted from 14,599 reproductive age (15-49 years) women. An approval letter was obtained from the measure DHS and the data set was downloaded from the DHS website. RESULTS: Eighty-six point eight percent (86.8%) of Mothers had good Knowledge about mother-to-child HIV transmission among reproductive-age women. Reproductive age women with wealth index of middle AOR = 1.31, 95% CI; 1.02, 1.67; richest AOR = 1.9, 95% CI; 1.22, 2.95; Media exposure AOR = 1.41, 95% CI; 1.16, 1.71; know the place to get HIV test AOR = 1.34, 95% CI; 1.09, 1.66 and having comprehensive knowledge of HIV AOR = 95% CI; 2.04, 3.01 were significantly associated factors towards mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). CONCLUSION: The awareness of reproductive-age women on MTCT is still low in Ethiopia. Strengthening HIV test coverage and post counseling testing service is needed to be focused on to increase awareness of reproductive age women on MTCT. It is recommended to increases the media coverage of MTCT using different Media platforms. Hence, increasing media exposure, educating women on HIV transmission, prevention and encourage women for HIV testing.