Completion of antiretroviral prophylaxis among the HIV positive Myanmar migrant pregnant women in the prevention of mother to child transmission program

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to ascertain factors influencing the completion antiretroviral therapy (ARV) prophylaxis of HIV positive pregnant women in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Program at Mae Tao clinic, Mae Sod District of Tak Province in Thailand. The study population was migrant pregnant women from Myanmar who tested HIV positive at the Mae Tao Clinic Antenatal Care (ANC) unit between January 2003 and November 2005. A total of 68 women participated in the study. The research found that, most of respondents aged between 25-35 years old. One-half of the women were with education level of primary school. Almost half, 46%, of the women were housewives. Forty-seven percent were both never had children and had one to three children, six percent of the women have had more than three children. Most of these HIV positive pregnant women had low household incomes, 77% had an income of less than 1,000 baht. Fifty-three percent of the respondents completed the ARV prophylaxis program. The study found that number of children of the HIV positive women significantly associated with completion of ARV prophylaxis. The study also found that the women with following characteristics were more likely to finish the prophylaxis: women who had not had any children, or had up to three children; women with higher level of knowledge; those with access to the program, official migration status of the women, monthly household income; social support, especially from the family members, peer group or other People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Attitude, on the contrary, had no associated with completion of the prophylaxis.