A study to determine the relationship between level of woman empowerment and level of self-care among HIV positive pregnant women aged 15-49 years at Morgenster mission hospital in Masvingo province

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major public health problem locally, regionally and internationally (Arron, 2007). Global UNAIDS 2013 report stated that 35, 5-38, 8 million people were living with HIV by December 2012 and approximately 60% of them being women. HIV prevalence among women aged 15-49 years in Zimbabwe is 16.4%, Avert Zimbabwe (2014) reported. Zimbabwe like any other countries which adopted the June 2013 WHO new integrated HIV treatment guidelines recommending lifelong antiretroviral therapy Option B+ for all HIV positive pregnant women and lactating mothers for their own health and prevention of mother to child transmission. Culture, socioeconomic status, and religion have left HIV positive pregnant women vulnerable to inability in accessing health care services. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between empowerment and self-care among HIV positive pregnant women aged 15-49 years at Morgenster Mission Hospital Antenatal Clinic in Masvingo Province. The study utilised Orem’s self care model. A quantitative descriptive correlation design was used in the study, whichdescribes the relationship between variables only without exploring cause and effect relationships. A sample of 96 HIV positive pregnant women aged 15-49 years was selected conveniently. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection after a pre-run of the study instrument for validity and reliability. The questionnaire had closed and open ended questions which took 15 to 20 minutes to answer. Data was analysed using the statistical package for Social Science (SPSS -PC). The research questions were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Linear regression analysis was used to test the strength of the relationship between empowerment and self care. Only 32 (33.3%) were empowered and 31 (31.3% could self care.