mission of HIV – the knowledge of gynaecologists and midwives

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.