ABSTRACT
Mother to child transmissible infection is any infection that through the mother can get to the child (born and unborn) HIV/AIDS being a typical. This infection might get to the child through the mother if the mother is HIV positive but does not take antiretroviral as recommended by the WHO and the ministry of public health in Cameroon. In the world, about 38.4 million people are now living with HIV; 2.5 million are children below 15 years of age are HIV infected and 90% of who live in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge of pregnant women on the prevention of MTCT of HIV/AIDS. A cross sectional study design was use with a random sampling technique. A well-structured questionnaire was used and the data was analyzed using micro soft excel and was presented using tables, figures and percentage. From findings, the results shows that half 61 (61%) knew the full meaning of HIV. Also concerning the mood of transmission, majority of 66 (66%) of mothers knew that the MTCT can be transmitted using infected syringes. With response to participants knowledge on the approach of MTCT the average number of 54 (54%) said by avoiding breast feeding. In conclusion, it is discovered that participants had average knowledge (54%) on the concept of MTCT of HIV, poor practice with regard to PMTC of HIV. Also, they had average knowledge on the prevention of MTCT at the Buea regional hospital. It is therefore recommended that health care workers should get more education concerning MTCT and PMCT since they are the main source of information to mothers of child bearing age.
Key word: transmission, HIV, child, AIDS and mother.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
HIV means human Immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that causes AIDS and interferes with
the body’s ability to fight infection. A person may be “HIV positive but do not have AIDS for
10years or longer (HIV Basic a center of disease control and prevention (CDC). A person who
is HIV positive can transmit the virus to another person when the infected with blood, semen
or vaginal fluid comes in contact with broken skin or mucous membrane .HIV transmission
from mother to child during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding is called prenatal
transmission. According to (March of Dimes, 2018), factors which increase the risk of
transmission include; smoking, infections such as STDs, Substance abuse, vitamin A
deficiency and breast feeding. HIV /AIDS testing is conducted with, a blood test (American
pregnancy association, 2015).
Thirty -eight million infected people are living with HIV and are found in the developing world:
(Epidemiology of AIDS in developed countries) HIV infection in pregnancy has become the
most common medical complications of pregnancy in some countries. More than 70% of all
HIV infections are as a result of heterosexual transmission and over 90% of Children result
from mother -to -child transmission. Almost 600,000 children who are infected with HIV by
mother to child transmission of HIV. In parts of southern Africa, the prevalence of HIV in
pregnant women is over 30% (WHO, 2018)
Globally, about 370,000 infants become infected with HIV every year .(UNAIDS)report on the
global AIDs epidemic Sub -Sahara Africa ( World Health Organization 2010 ) Depending on
the availability of intervention to reduce HIV transmission through breast feeding is
responsible for between 30% and 60% of all HIV infections in children (Journal of infectious
disease ,2004).If an HIV infected mother breastfeeds her infants for 2years without receiving
any antiretroviral drugs( ARVS)then 14 -20% of infants will become infected (Journal of
infectious disease ,2004).
Mother to child transmission of HIV refers to prenatal transmission of HIV from an HIV
positive mother to her baby at any one or more of the following stages: pregnancy, Labor,
delivery or breastfeeding. Globally, this account for about 90% of HIV infected children under
the age of 15years (De cool KM, 2000).In 2016, 90% of the estimated four million children
living with HIV resided in the sub-Sahara Africa (Nigeria FGO, 2016).
In Cameroon, the prevalence of HIV was estimated to be 4.3% in the general population. A
zero surveliant survey among pregnant women shown HIV Prevalence of 76% in 2010
(MINSANTE -CNILS Cameroon, 2012). As a result, the rate of pediatric infections continues
to grow in Cameroon and there are still thousands of new infections each year. (Penazzano,
2014). In 2011, the UNAIDs launched the global plan towards the elimination of new HIV
infections among children and keeping their mother’s alive (UNAIDs, 2011). Since 2011,
Cameroon has tripled its coverage of PMTCT prophylaxis ranging from 6.9% to 36.5% leading
to 36% less new HIV infection among children (UNAIDS 2011)
1.2 Problem Statement
Mother to child transmission of HIV is the main way of prenatal transmission from an HIV
Positive mother to her infants. According to (UNAIDs/WHO AID epidemic update 2009), an
estimate of 430,000 children were newly infected with the HIV virus in 2008 in the world,
more than 90% of them through vertical transmission from mother. In Zambia roughly 80.000
Infants are born annually from HIV Infected mothers and are risk of contracting the disease.
An average of 20,000 are born with HIV each year (40 %) The rate of vertical transmission
varies from 15 -25 in Non-breast-feeding infants and double in breastfeeding ones (Ministry of
health national protocol guideline, 2010) for vertical transmission, it various preventions and
the risk involved for mother and child are hence the study question. Through the strategies to
curb, the differences are put in place. In some countries others are yet to implement such. In
Cameroon no study was found in the Buea Regional Hospital as far as mother-to-child
transmission is concern.
1.3 Rationale
Due to the increase or high rate of HIV/ AIDS transmission worldwide about 80% in Africa,
the birth rate of infants who got infected by their mother in the world each year has increased.
This therefore calls for concern on the knowledge and practices on the prevention of mother
to-child transmission are now necessary.
1.4 Research Question
 What knowledge do pregnant women at the Buea Regional Hospital have on the
prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS?
 What are the practices of pregnant women at the Buea Regional Hospital in the
prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS?
 What preventive measures are used by pregnant women at the Buea Regional Hospital
in the prevention of the MTCT HIV/AIDS?
1.6 Research Objectives
1.6.1 General Objective
The study aims to assess pregnant women knowledge and practices of mother-to-child
transmission of HIV/AIDS in Buea Regional Hospital.
1.6.2 Specific Objectives
 To access the knowledge pregnant women have on mother-to-child transmission of HIV
in the Buea Regional Hospital
 To identify pregnant women practices on the prevention of mother to child transmission
of HIV in the Buea Regional Hospital
 To determine the preventing measures of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among
pregnant women in the Buea Regional Hospital.