Introduction
In 2023, globally 44% of all new HIV infections were among women and girls (all ages). In Sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls (all age) accounted for 62% of all new HIV infections. In Cameroon, 15,434 pregnant women were identified as HIV+ and 3.3% of their children were HIV+.
Objective:
To assess the influence of knowledge in community engagement of pregnant women toward the PMTCT of HIV in North region of Cameroon.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted at 20 hospitals in the Bibemi and Garoua health districts in June 2024. Data were collected using a PMTCT knowledge scale, sociodemographic, obstetrical and an attitude questionnaire, which were administered through face-to-face to 326 voluntary pregnant women in antenatal care (ANC). Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate hierarchical binary logistic regression with 1000 samples bootstrap were performed using SPSS 27. Multivariate analysis included only significant variables (P<0.05) from the univariate analysis.
Result
The median age was 29, 68% had no income, 77% were living with a partner. The overall knowledge score was 0.28, indicating that 38% demonstrated good knowledge of PMTCT; 54% expressed willingness to engage in HIV control interventions but 13% had already done so. Factors positively associated with this community engagement, were knowledge of PMTCT (B=3.32), age (B=0.2), number of pregnancies (B=0.93), number of ANC performed (B=0.51) but the number of living children (B= -1.14) was negatively associated. The bootstrap analysis showed a positive association between interesting outcome and predisposition to HIV interventions (B =19.06; 95%CI Bca: 17.78-21).
Conclusion
This study revealed a low level of good knowledge and community engagement with PMTCT of HIV among ANC attendees. This finding also suggests that there is a need to improve the knowledge of PMTCT for pregnant women attending ANC in order to increase their engagement and use of PMTCT services.