PREVENTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION APPROACHES AGAINST MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN PMTCT HOSPITALS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Preventive health approaches especially those pertaining to fundamental health of human being are of profound importance in every health institutions in Anambra state. This research work intends to assess the preventive health education approaches against PMTCT of HIV/AIDS among health workers in selected hospitals in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The study population comprised health workers providing services for PMTCT of HIV in Anambra State. Yamane Taro sample size calculation was used to determine the sample size of the study and multi-stage sampling was used to select 237 health workers from the three levels of health institution. Self-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the health workers.  Data obtained were presented in tables and graph form. Results show that lecture (30%), workshop (27%) and seminar as well as conference (27%) were the health education approaches that are mostly employed in the PMTCT facilities studies. Also, it was found out that ignorance (29.1%), lack of instructional materials (52.7%) and unavailability of funds (41%) were the major challenges facing the utilization of health education methods in the PMTCT health facilities. Chi-Square test for independence was applied. It gave a degree of freedom of 2.7 and a significant value of 1.000. Thus, it was observed that there is no significant difference between health education approaches among health workers and their educational qualification. Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman rank correlation coefficient were used t. This gives a significant value of 0.196 for Pearson correlation coefficient and 0.912 for Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Thus, there is no significant difference between health education approaches utilized in the PMTCT hospitals and level of health institution. It is recommended that, instructional materials should be made available in the PMTCT, Also seminars and workshops on educational approaches should be organized in the various PMTCT hospitals.