A study to determine relationship between partner support and adherence to Zidovudine among HIV positive pregnant women attending PMTCT clinic at Shurugwi hospital

Abstract

There are low levels of adherence to zidovudine prophylaxis among HIV positive pregnant women at Shurugwi District Hospital in Zimbabwe. The most likely contributing factor to low adherence levels could be related to the level of partner support. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between partner support and adherence to zidovudine prophylaxis by HIV-positive pregnant women attending Shurugwi PMTCT clinic. Pender’s Health Promotion Model guided the study. A descriptive correlational design was used. A sample of eighty (82) participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected into the study using a systematic sampling method. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires over a period of three (3) weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that Sixty-six (80.4%) participants demonstrated poor sub-optimal levels (<95%) of adherence to zidovudine prophylaxis and 62 (75.6%) perceived partner support to be low. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r=.677; p<.01) showed a strong positive significant relationship. Partner support had an impact of 45.9% on adherence to zidovudine prophylaxis (R2 0.459). The findings reflect that as partner support increased, adherence to zidovudine prophylaxis among HIV-positive pregnant women increased. Midwives should intensify partner involvement in PMTCT programmes in order to achieve optimal (>95%) adherence to zidovudine prophylaxis among HIV-positive pregnant women so as to be able to suppress Mother to Child Transmission of HIV.