Table 2 Respondents’ knowledge of PMTCT EID guideline recommendations

Provision of integrated PMTCT services within routine prenatal care

The PMTCT guidelines recommend:

a). Group counselling and Opt-in HIV testing

b). Individual counselling and opt-out testing

c). Group counselling and opt-out testing

4 (3.5)

109 (96.5)

Screening of HIV at the “Booking clinic’ is the entry into PMTCT services

109 (96.5)

4 (3.5)

Screening of all pregnant women at their first prenatal clinic for HIV infection

Posttest counselling of HIV-negative women is not required

193 (82.3)

20 (17.7)

Screening of all HIV positive pregnant women for co-morbid opportunistic infections like Tuberculosis

You should check the blood levels (PCV) of a pregnant HIV positive woman:

a). at the booking clinic and every other clinic

b). at the booking clinic and 3 other clinics

c). at the booking clinic and whenever it is necessary

42 (37.8)

71 (62.8)

HIV viral load in pregnancy should be checked:

a). At the booking clinic only

b). At the booking clinic and 34–36 weeks’ gestation

c). At the booking visit, 34–36 weeks’ gestation and in labour

60 (53.1)

53 (46.9)

Provision of posttest counselling to all women and link all HIV-positive women to ART initiation

Select the wrong sentence from below:

a). HIV medications once started in pregnancy should be used for life.

b). The preferred medication is (Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Efavirenz) known as Telura®

c). Not all HIV positive pregnant women need to take HIV medications

78 (69)

33 (29.2)

Performance of repeat HIV screening for HIV-negative women late in pregnancy and intrapartum.

A woman who had an HIV-negative test result at 24 weeks should have a repeat HIV test at 34–38 weeks’ gestation

91 (80.5)

22 (19.5)

A woman who had an HIV-negative test result at 18 weeks should have a repeat HIV test at 34–38 weeks’ gestation

90 (79.6)

23 (20.4)

Intrapartum interventions

Artificial rupture of fetal membranes (ARM) should be performed in labour when the cervix is ≥7 cm dilated

43 (38.0)

70 (62.0)

Episiotomy (surgical perineal cut) should be given to make HIV positive women deliver quicker.

96 (85.0)

17 (15.0)

Commencement of ART infant prophylaxis to all HIV-exposed infants within 72 hours of birth

All HIV-exposed infants should have Nevirapine syrup daily soon after birth, within 72 hours.

109 (96.5)

2 (1.8)

A high-risk HIV-exposed infant has a mother:

a. Who used ART for more than 4 weeks at the time of birth.

b. Who has a viral load > 1000 copies/ml 4 weeks before birth.

c. All of the above

60 (53.1)

52 (46.0)

Maternal postpartum care

Discussion of postpartum family planning should start at the postnatal clinic.

43 (38.0)

70 (62.0)

Childhood immunization for the HIV-exposed infant

HIV-exposed infants should not be given the second dose of the Oral Polio vaccine at 6 weeks old.

104 (92.0)

9 (8)

Early infant HIV diagnosis (EID)

Dry blood sample (DBS) test (DNA PCR) is done at 6–8 weeks of life for HIV-exposed infant

100 (88.5)

12 (10.6)

Opportunistic infection prophylaxis

Cotrimoxazole (Septrin®) prophylaxis for all HIV-exposed infants at 6 weeks is not necessary.

82 (72.6)

31 (27.4)