Preconception care practice in pregnant HIV infected women in Kiambu county, Kenya
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Date
2014
Authors
Muthoni, Joseph Mwangi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Preconception care (PCC) is the patient education, evaluation, and management aimed to prevent
unplanned pregnancies and decrease the risk of adverse health effects for the woman, fetus, and
neonate by optimizing the woman's health and knowledge before planning and conceiving a
pregnancy. Importantly, the HIV pandemic makes PCC even more essential due to the additional
risks for sexual and vertical transmission of HIV. This study seeks to determine whether PCC is
indeed practiced among HIV infected women as a way of fighting the HIV pandemic, besides
preventing pregnancy related morbidities and mortalities. The study will be a cross-sectional
study in which pregnant HIV infected women who were already enrolled in chronic care by their
estimated date of conception will be interviewed on PCC interventions. Besides, clients' files
will be reviewed to abstract data on client's condition, stage of HIV disease, CD4 count, and
viral load around the conception period because these are the consideration in preconception care
practice, yet the patient may not remember. The study will be done in eight Kiambu county
facilities that have established comprehensive care clinics namely Kiambu sub-county hospital,
Kihara sub-county hospital, Tigoni sub-county hospital, Ruiru sub-county hospital, Nazareth
mission hospital, Gatundu sub-county hospital, Githunguri sub-county and Thika sub-county
hospital over a period of two months. A sample of 322 HIV infected women will be used. A
questionnaire and a checklist will be used to collect data, which will then be analyzed using
SPSS. Analysis will involve t-test to compare proportion of women getting preconception care
vis-a-vis proportion not getting preconception care. Results will be presented in graphs, tables
and charts and the results disseminated to all stakeholders including Kenyatta University and
medical superintendents in respective facilities.