open access

Vol 79, No 12 (2008)
ARTICLES
Get Citation

mission of HIV – the knowledge of gynaecologists and midwives

Dorota Rogowska-Szadkowska, Ewa Pentkowska, Sławomir Chlabicz
Ginekol Pol 2008;79(12).

open access

Vol 79, No 12 (2008)
ARTICLES

Abstract

Abstract Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of gynaecologist and midwives concerning the risk of vertical transmission of HIV. Material and methods: Anonymous questionnaires have been filled in by thirty gynaecologists/obstetricians and thirty midwives who work at hospital wards and ambulatory gynaecological surgeries in Białystok. Results: When asked about chances of an HIV positive woman, aware of her infection, giving birth to a healthy baby, only 3 doctors (10%) and 4 midwives (13.3%) provided the correct answer, namely that such chances exceed 98%. Natural delivery was considered safer for the baby by 12 doctors (36,7%) and 7 (23,3%) midwives. The others chose elective caesarean section as the preferred mode of delivery. Twenty–five doctors (13,3%) and 23 midwives (76,7%) were aware that HIV infected women should not breast-feed. Four doctors (13,3%) and 6 midwives (20,0%) favoured breast-feeding. Only 7 doctors (23,3%) and 9 midwives (30,0%) knew that the diagnosis whether a child is infected or not, based on anti-HIV antibodies, is possible only after the child reaches the age of 18 months. Conclusions: Being aware of the limitations of our study, it is possible to formulate the following conclusion: Knowledge of gynaecologists/obstetricians and midwives about possibilities of HIV vertical transmission is insufficient for effective transmission prophylaxis.

Abstract

Abstract Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of gynaecologist and midwives concerning the risk of vertical transmission of HIV. Material and methods: Anonymous questionnaires have been filled in by thirty gynaecologists/obstetricians and thirty midwives who work at hospital wards and ambulatory gynaecological surgeries in Białystok. Results: When asked about chances of an HIV positive woman, aware of her infection, giving birth to a healthy baby, only 3 doctors (10%) and 4 midwives (13.3%) provided the correct answer, namely that such chances exceed 98%. Natural delivery was considered safer for the baby by 12 doctors (36,7%) and 7 (23,3%) midwives. The others chose elective caesarean section as the preferred mode of delivery. Twenty–five doctors (13,3%) and 23 midwives (76,7%) were aware that HIV infected women should not breast-feed. Four doctors (13,3%) and 6 midwives (20,0%) favoured breast-feeding. Only 7 doctors (23,3%) and 9 midwives (30,0%) knew that the diagnosis whether a child is infected or not, based on anti-HIV antibodies, is possible only after the child reaches the age of 18 months. Conclusions: Being aware of the limitations of our study, it is possible to formulate the following conclusion: Knowledge of gynaecologists/obstetricians and midwives about possibilities of HIV vertical transmission is insufficient for effective transmission prophylaxis.
Get Citation

Keywords

delivery-obstetric, testing, pregnancy

About this article
Title

mission of HIV – the knowledge of gynaecologists and midwives

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 79, No 12 (2008)

Page views

477

Article views/downloads

575

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2008;79(12).

Keywords

delivery-obstetric
testing
pregnancy

Authors

Dorota Rogowska-Szadkowska
Ewa Pentkowska
Sławomir Chlabicz

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

By VM Media Group sp. z o.o., ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk
tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, faks:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail:  viamedica@viamedica.pl