The Effectiveness of Interpersonal Communication on Adherence to The Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of Hiv Cascade a Case of Homa Bay and Kisumu Counties Kenya

Abstract

Interpersonal communication, and in particular provider-patient communication, is integral to health communication and benefits patient satisfaction, retention, and overall health outcomes. Kenya is one of six HIV/AIDS ‘high burden’ countries in Africa, with about 1.5 million people reported to be living with HIV at the end of 2019 and 6800 new infections among children. A contributing factor to these infections is the mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) during pregnancy, labour, delivery, or breastfeeding. Anchored on the convergence theory and social influence theory, a pre-post survey (N = 161), interviews (N = 2) and focus group discussions (N = 11) were employed to identify differences and determine challenges between mothers who receive support through the mentor mother program and their counterparts who do not have access to such support. The study also established the perceptions of mentor mothers on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme in Homa Bay, Kenya. Study participants were selected using convenient sampling at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kandege Health Centre. Qualitative data was analysed using a Welch t-test, while thematic analysis using Dedoose was used for qualitative data. Findings showed that post-natal participants had significantly greater PMTCT knowledge (sig = 0.02) than post-intervention participants who had access to a mentor mother. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of attitudes, PMTCT practices, interpersonal communication, mutual understanding, compliance, identification, and internalization. The study recommends provision of interpersonal communication skills training for mentor mothers to better improve their impact in communities.

Description

Doctor of philosophy In communication

Keywords

Communication, Mother-To-Child, Hiv, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Counties, Kenya

Citation

Kiptinness, E. M (2021, October)The Effectiveness of Interpersonal Communication on Adherence to The Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of Hiv Cascade a Case of Homa Bay and Kisumu Counties Kenya. Daystar University School of Communication; Nairobi.