Impact of educational status on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitude and misconceptions among pregnant women

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to assess the influence of educational level on HIV knowledge, attitude and misperceptions that may act as barriers in HIV prevention. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among pregnant women who came for antenatal clinic visits in a teaching hospital in Sagamu, a town in Ogun State, Nigeria. The age range of the respondents was 20-59 years. Age range 30-39 years accounted for the highest percentage (53.1%). Majority (76.7%) were of monogamous family. While 63% had tertiary education and above, 29.3% had secondary, 6.5% primary and a minor percentage (1.2%) had no formal education. Respondents with tertiary educational level had the major percentage (89%) of those who indicated that HIV/AIDS is caused by virus, highest percentage on the modes of HIV/AIDS prevention (avoid causal sex (77.6%)), highest knowledge of mother to child transmission (during breast feeding (52%)) and a better receptive attitude (willing to care for a HIV positive family member (87%)), towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) as compared to other respondents. Structured education in the form of health talks which could be delivered at their different educational levels should be targeted at pregnant women during clinic hours.