Likely stakeholders in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Blantyre, Malawi.

OBJECTIVES To determine potential partners for pregnant women in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and to determine pregnant women's perceptions towards selected potential HIV prevention efforts. DESIGN Cross sectional, questionnaire-administered study. SETTING Ante-natal clinics of eleven public health centers and the major referral and university teaching hospital of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi. SUBJECTS A total of 321 pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics. RESULTS Antenatal women in Blantyre, Malawi obtain health information on HIV/AIDS from the radio (96.3%), health workers (82.2%), religious gatherings (66.7%), friends (54.8%) and newspapers (39.3%). The majority intend to be accompanied by own mother and sister for delivery (52.4% and 15.4% respectively). Almost all (99%) planned to breast feed with 91.8% reporting an intended breastfeeding period of at least 6 months. About 97% of married women reported desire to tell spouse in case of HIV sero-positive results while only 65.1% had ever discussed about HIV with spouse, and only 5.2% had ever attended antenatal clinic with spouse. Whether woman had ever discussed about HIV/AIDS with spouse or not did not influence desire to disclose HIV status to spouse. CONCLUSION Close relatives, spouse and the media are important stakeholders in the health of pregnant women. Programs aimed at prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV should give serious consideration to these partners.