Compliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, Uganda

Abstract Background Retesting for HIV during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum is crucial for identifying new infections and ensuring timely interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Uganda's national guidelines recommend that pregnant women be retested in the 3rd trimester...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shafik Malende, Edward Buzigi, Esther Bayiga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12249-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832594901819195392
author Shafik Malende
Edward Buzigi
Esther Bayiga
author_facet Shafik Malende
Edward Buzigi
Esther Bayiga
author_sort Shafik Malende
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Retesting for HIV during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum is crucial for identifying new infections and ensuring timely interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Uganda's national guidelines recommend that pregnant women be retested in the 3rd trimester or during labor/delivery. However, limited information exists regarding adherence to these guidelines, which may affect the effectiveness of PMTCT efforts. Aim To assess compliance with maternal HIV retesting and the factors influencing retesting among pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2024 in six government health facilities in Namutumba district. Quantitative data were collected from randomly selected mothers who delivered during the study period using a structured questionnaire in an open data kit. For the qualitative component, data were collected through key informant interviews with healthcare workers to explore barriers and facilitators to HIV retesting. Quantitative data were analyzed using STATA version 17, while qualitative data underwent manual thematic analysis. Results The study showed that most respondents were young women, with an average age of 25.7 years, most of whom lived in rural areas (89.3%) and were married (88%). HIV retesting prevalence was 85%. Key factors associated with retesting included secondary education [APR 1.55, 95% CI (1.03-2.34)], tertiary education [APR 1.72, 95% CI (1.10-2.61)], attending at least five ANC visits [APR 1.11, 95% CI (1.01-1.21)], and spousal accompaniment for ANC or delivery [APR 1.18 (1.05-1.34)]. Facilitators included community outreach, education, and incentives while barriers involved testing kit shortages, poor documentation, stigma, and human resource constraints. Conclusions HIV retesting in Namutumba district's high-volume health facilities was below the recommended 100% needed to eliminate mother-to-child transmission. Recommendations Prioritize interventions to increase retesting uptake, focus on health education, promote spousal involvement, and address human resource gaps in HIV testing services.
format Article
id doaj-art-5ea15e230d1e4a849650b0830dd27f61
institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6963
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Health Services Research
spelling doaj-art-5ea15e230d1e4a849650b0830dd27f612025-01-19T12:15:24ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-01-0125111210.1186/s12913-025-12249-zCompliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, UgandaShafik Malende0Edward Buzigi1Esther Bayiga2Makerere University Joint AIDS Program Local PartnerMakerere University School of Public Health/New Mulago Hospital ComplexMakerere University School of Public Health/New Mulago Hospital ComplexAbstract Background Retesting for HIV during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum is crucial for identifying new infections and ensuring timely interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Uganda's national guidelines recommend that pregnant women be retested in the 3rd trimester or during labor/delivery. However, limited information exists regarding adherence to these guidelines, which may affect the effectiveness of PMTCT efforts. Aim To assess compliance with maternal HIV retesting and the factors influencing retesting among pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2024 in six government health facilities in Namutumba district. Quantitative data were collected from randomly selected mothers who delivered during the study period using a structured questionnaire in an open data kit. For the qualitative component, data were collected through key informant interviews with healthcare workers to explore barriers and facilitators to HIV retesting. Quantitative data were analyzed using STATA version 17, while qualitative data underwent manual thematic analysis. Results The study showed that most respondents were young women, with an average age of 25.7 years, most of whom lived in rural areas (89.3%) and were married (88%). HIV retesting prevalence was 85%. Key factors associated with retesting included secondary education [APR 1.55, 95% CI (1.03-2.34)], tertiary education [APR 1.72, 95% CI (1.10-2.61)], attending at least five ANC visits [APR 1.11, 95% CI (1.01-1.21)], and spousal accompaniment for ANC or delivery [APR 1.18 (1.05-1.34)]. Facilitators included community outreach, education, and incentives while barriers involved testing kit shortages, poor documentation, stigma, and human resource constraints. Conclusions HIV retesting in Namutumba district's high-volume health facilities was below the recommended 100% needed to eliminate mother-to-child transmission. Recommendations Prioritize interventions to increase retesting uptake, focus on health education, promote spousal involvement, and address human resource gaps in HIV testing services.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12249-zHIVHIV Maternal retestingUganda
spellingShingle Shafik Malende
Edward Buzigi
Esther Bayiga
Compliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, Uganda
BMC Health Services Research
HIV
HIV Maternal retesting
Uganda
title Compliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, Uganda
title_full Compliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, Uganda
title_fullStr Compliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Compliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, Uganda
title_short Compliance with maternal HIV retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in Namutumba district, Uganda
title_sort compliance with maternal hiv retesting for pregnant women attending care in selected health facilities in namutumba district uganda
topic HIV
HIV Maternal retesting
Uganda
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12249-z
work_keys_str_mv AT shafikmalende compliancewithmaternalhivretestingforpregnantwomenattendingcareinselectedhealthfacilitiesinnamutumbadistrictuganda
AT edwardbuzigi compliancewithmaternalhivretestingforpregnantwomenattendingcareinselectedhealthfacilitiesinnamutumbadistrictuganda
AT estherbayiga compliancewithmaternalhivretestingforpregnantwomenattendingcareinselectedhealthfacilitiesinnamutumbadistrictuganda