SELF-REPORTED ADHERENCE TO SINGLE DOSE NEVIRAPINE IN THE PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV AT KITALE DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objectives: To evaluate the uptake and adherence to single dose nevirapine among
HIV positive mothers.
Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Setting: The maternal and child health and family planning (MCH-FP) clinics in
Kitale district hospital, Western Kenya.
Subjects: HIV positive postnatal women attending MCH-FP clinic who had gone
through the PMTCT programme.
Results: A total of 146 respondents were recruited for this study. Most (90%) of them
reported swallowing their nevirapine tablets, however only 55 swallowed their
tablets within 4-12 hours before delivery. The most important factor affecting
nevirapine adherence was place or delivery (p<0.05). Most (71%) of mothers who
did not swallow their nevirapine delivered at home. Women attending ANC for two
times or less young women under 20 years of age and single women were also less
likely to swallow their nevirapine (p < 0.05). Most (91%) of the babies received their
nevirapine syrup with 98% of them getting it within 72 hours of delivery. Eighty
eight percent of babies who did not take their nevirapine were delivered at home.
Babies whose mothers did not take their nevirapine were also more likely to miss it.
Conclusions: Self reported adherence to take home nevirapine is high. However
mothers who deliver in a health facility were more likely to access nevirapine both
for themselves and their babies than those delivering at home.