MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

Antiretroviral therapy is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. Implementation of such therapy depends on the identification of HIV-infected pregnant women. This study investigated how the biographical characteristics of the pregnant women (16-45 years) influenced their health decision-making in Bulawayo clinics. The study was guided by the theories of health behaviour. The study assumed that the respondents’ demographic characteristics will influence their attitudes towards PMTCT programme. Using a structured questionnaire, forty pregnant women who visited the Bulawayo clinics to have prenatal checkups were interviewed. The majority of respondents came from a poor, high-density township. Most of the respondents were married, but about a third were not married at the time data collection and 5% were separated. The survey items were demographic characteristics, knowledge of PMTCT, HIV risk perceptions and service utilisation. The levels of literacy among the respondents were high; more than 80% had completed primary education. Overall the respondents’ demographic characteristics influenced their attitudes towards PMTCT. Majority of the women knew that a mother with HIV can pass the virus to her child, during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The pregnant women’s health-seeking behaviour and their attitudes toward reproductive health services are influenced by their demographic situation. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV/AIDS))

Community participation has been hailed as the panacea for most community programmes. Community participation at high levels empowers communities, increases self-reliance, selfawareness and confidence in self-examination of problems and seeking solutions for them Behavioural changes are promoted and utilisation and support of services is facilitated, which is of great importance in antenatal care and generally in this present day of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women were participating in the provision of antenatal care. Secondly, the study sought the pregnant women's perceptions and expectations regarding their participation in the provision of antenatal care and to find out at what level if any, the women wanted to be involved in the provision of antenatal care. The theoretical model guiding this study was Rifkin' s model for evaluating community participation. A guided interview was conducted with 30 conveniently selected pregnant mothers residing in the area of the Chinamhora clinic. The results indicated limited participation in the five process indicators of community participation. However, all the women regarded community participation as being important. The majority of the women wished to be involved at high levels of participation. The results of this study should be valuable to health care professionais in formulating strategies and modifying existing programmes to enhance community participation, with the decentralisation of health services in Zimbabwe. / Health Studies / M.A. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

Antiretroviral therapy is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. Implementation of such therapy depends on the identification of HIV-infected pregnant women. This study investigated how the biographical characteristics of the pregnant women (16-45 years) influenced their health decision-making in Bulawayo clinics. The study was guided by the theories of health behaviour. The study assumed that the respondents’ demographic characteristics will influence their attitudes towards PMTCT programme. Using a structured questionnaire, forty pregnant women who visited the Bulawayo clinics to have prenatal checkups were interviewed. The majority of respondents came from a poor, high-density township. Most of the respondents were married, but about a third were not married at the time data collection and 5% were separated. The survey items were demographic characteristics, knowledge of PMTCT, HIV risk perceptions and service utilisation. The levels of literacy among the respondents were high; more than 80% had completed primary education. Overall the respondents’ demographic characteristics influenced their attitudes towards PMTCT. Majority of the women knew that a mother with HIV can pass the virus to her child, during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The pregnant women’s health-seeking behaviour and their attitudes toward reproductive health services are influenced by their demographic situation. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV/AIDS))

Community participation has been hailed as the panacea for most community programmes. Community participation at high levels empowers communities, increases self-reliance, selfawareness and confidence in self-examination of problems and seeking solutions for them Behavioural changes are promoted and utilisation and support of services is facilitated, which is of great importance in antenatal care and generally in this present day of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women were participating in the provision of antenatal care. Secondly, the study sought the pregnant women's perceptions and expectations regarding their participation in the provision of antenatal care and to find out at what level if any, the women wanted to be involved in the provision of antenatal care. The theoretical model guiding this study was Rifkin' s model for evaluating community participation. A guided interview was conducted with 30 conveniently selected pregnant mothers residing in the area of the Chinamhora clinic. The results indicated limited participation in the five process indicators of community participation. However, all the women regarded community participation as being important. The majority of the women wished to be involved at high levels of participation. The results of this study should be valuable to health care professionais in formulating strategies and modifying existing programmes to enhance community participation, with the decentralisation of health services in Zimbabwe. / Health Studies / M.A. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)