Quality of PMTCT Services in Gebretsadiq Shawo Memorial Hospital, Kafa Zone, South West Ethiopia: A Descriptive Study

摘要

Background: Worldwide, an estimated 2.3 million children under the age of 15 are HIV positive. The main source of HIV infection in children is vertical transmission of HIV from mother-to-child during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or breastfeeding. Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV has been expanded in accelerated fashion throughout Ethiopia with all public hospitals and health centers providing the services. However, published studies on the services’ provision in the country are generally limited. If at all, they did not comprehensively examine quality of the services. Objective: The study aimed to assess the quality of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV services in Gebretsadiq Shawo Memorial Hospital in Kafa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study involving both quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted in September 2012. A total of 311 pregnant mothers were interviewed and a one year (2011) record of PMTCT clients was reviewed and service provision processes were observed for 10 counseling sessions. Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome model was used to conceptualize the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS for windows version 17 software. Descriptive statistics were computed to summarize the findings. Results: Almost all of the minimum required resources such as test kits, prophylactic drugs and other supplies were available in the hospital; counselors followed the national guideline in providing HIV counseling and testing services; and most (90%) of clients were satisfied or very satisfied by the PMTCT services they received. However, from 858 pregnant mothers who visited the ANC clinic in 2011, only 330(38.5%) were offered HIV pretest counseling, while 281 (33%) were tested. Conclusion: Although clients’ satisfaction by PMTCT service is very high, considerable proportion of pregnant mothers who utilize ANC services are not offered HIV counseling and testing services. Therefore, appropriate quality improvement interventions against the missed opportunities are highly recommended.