Knowledge, perception about antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) and adherence to ART among HIV positive women in the Ashanti Region, Ghana: a cross-sectional study

The study was a descriptive cross-sectional employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study involved 229 HIV positive women in reproductive age (18 – 49？years) and had been on ART for at least six months. Fourteen health workers were also included in the qualitative study. Respondents were selected from three ART centers in the Kumasi Metropolis through systematic random sampling from August to November 2011. HIV positive women who had consistently missed two or more ART appointments within the previous two months were classified as defaulters. Data was analyzed with SPSS 19 and STATA 11. Logistic regression was run to assess the odds ratios at 95% confidence level.The ART defaulter rate was 27% and clients had good knowledge about ART and PMTCT. More than 90% of the HIV positive women had inadequate knowledge about ART and PMTCT and these women were more likely to default ART (OR？=？3.5; 95% CI？=？1.89, 6.21). The educational background of HIV positive women did not have significant influence on their knowledge of ART and PMTCT.Mothers, knowledge and understanding of ART and PMTCT could influence their adherence to ART. Educational interventions which target the understanding of both the literate and illiterate women in society are necessary to develop positive behaviors and enhance adherence to ART.HIV remains the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan African [1] and HIV infection among children has mainly been through Mother-To-Child-Transmission (MTCT) [2]. However, the most effective way of preventing MTCT of HIV is to prevent infection in women of reproductive age. Nearly 16 million women are living with HIV with 1.4 million pregnant women at risk of passing along HIV to their children each year [3]. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the continent most ravaged by the epidemic, females are close to 60% of those infected with the virus and form 75% of infected 15–24？year olds. In Ghana, the level of HIV infection in 2009 was nearly 3 times higher among young w