Risk factors for non return for postnatal care among HIV positive mothers at Kampala capital city authority health facilities

Abstract

Background: Despite scale up of Perinatal prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV interventions, postnatal continuity of comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, for both the mother and baby remains a challenge in developing countries. In Uganda, of the 42% of all mothers who deliver in the health facilities, only 26% of them received any postnatal care services within 6 weeks. Objective: To determine the risk factors associated with non-return for PNC among HIV+ women at KCCA Health facilities. Method: This unmatched case control study involving 304 (152 cases and 152 controls) respondents were conducted at 6 KCCA Health facilities. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires and double entered into Epin Info v3.5.2, cleaned and analysed using SPSS v16.0 Results: Risk factors for non-return included; less than 5 children relative to 5 or more living children alive (aOR= 0.07; 95%CI 0.01 – 0.63), lack of knowledge that antiretroviral drugs are part of PNC package (aOR= 0.44; 95% CI 0.23 – 0.85), and mothers with no knowledge of the recommended six weeks return for PNC after delivery (aOR= 4.15; 95%CI 2.43 – 7.09). Conclusions: No knowledge that ARVs are part of PNC and recommended time to return for PNC, below 5 children alive, and mothers with better attitude were associated with non-return for PNC.