Determinants of Utilization of Early Infant HIV Diagnosis Services at Kericho County Referral Hospital, Kericho County, Kenya

Abstract

HIV and AIDS has become a health challenge globally. It is a major cause of infant and childhood morbidity and mortality in Africa. This research was a cross sectional analytical survey to assess the determinants of utilization of Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) at Kericho County Referral Hospital (KCRH). Data was collected using pretested questionnaires, administered to the postnatal HIV positive mothers and or caretakers of HIV exposed children. Data was analysed using SPSS software version 18.0. Data was analysed using Chi-square and Logistic Regression analysis. Of the 254 respondents, 201 (79.1%) were biological mothers to the children, the rest were caretakers. The children were aged between 1 and 18 months with a mean age of 9.62 months. Majority of the respondents had adequate knowledge of adult HIV infection with regard to what HIV is, routes of transmission, diagnosis and treatment. Knowledge of paediatric HIV infection was however inadequate with only 132 (52%) respondents who knew the approximate rate of HIV transmission from mother to child and 130 (51.2%) who knew about the availability of paediatric Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Both adult and paediatric HIV knowledge was better with increasing level of education. The younger respondents were also more knowledgeable than the older ones. The children who had utilized EID were only 75 (29.5%). The significant determinants of EID utilization included: the level of education (p=0.002), the place of delivery (p<0.01), the age of the respondent (p=0.008), the distance to the nearest healthcare facility that offered EID (p=0.004) among others. The most significant determinants of EID utilization were the level of education, accessibility and the age of the respondents. In conclusion, EID utilization is still low in Kericho County. This study recommends that improving maternal education would improve EID uptake.