Factors affecting attitudes towards mother-to-child transmission of HIV among pregnant women in a maternal and child hospital in Thailand

This study determines the factors which correlate with attitudes towards mother-to-child transmission of HIV in pregnant women. Using a structured questionnaire, 527 pregnant women who visited a hospital to have prenatal check-ups were interviewed. The survey items were: sociodemographic characteristics, experiences of pre-test counselling, knowledge of mother-to-child transmission, and attitude towards termination of pregnancy. Results showed that many pregnant women (80%) did not have proper knowledge of the possibility of mother-to-child transmission. Logisitic regression analysis also indicates that age and knowledge of the possibility of mother-to-child transmission were the significant determinants of attitudes towards termination of pregnancy. Older women who believe that all the babies of pregnant women with HIV will be infected are most likely to terminate their pregnancy when they are diagnosed as HIV positive. Considering the importance of informed decisions regarding pregnancy, this study must have important implications for future support progammes for HIV-positive pregnant women.