The willingness and constraints to routing HIV screening among antenatal mothers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi

Background: The Nigerian National policy on HIV/AIDS provides that all antenatal care services shall offer voluntary confidential counseling and testing as an integral component of prevention of Mother to child Transmission programme. Methods: This descriptive cross- sectional study on 312 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, was carried out, to evaluate the knowledge of HIV/AIDS, the practice of voluntary HIV testing and also determine the constraints and motivation to voluntary HIV testing. Results: The level of awareness of HIV/AIDS was very high (99%). Majorities (81.7%) was aware of their HIV status and were tested at the antenatal period (45.9%) and before church wedding (43.5%). However, 69.4%) had pre test counseling while 51.8% had post test counseling. Majority (67%) would seek their husband's consent before HIV testing. Fear of HIV infection (52.7%) was the greatest hindrance to testing, and prevention of the transmission to the child was the major motivation factor (46.2%) to testing and state disclosure. Conclusion: HIV counselors should recognize fear as major constraint, and prevention of transmission to the child as a motivation, and build in appropriate message to promote post counseling uptake . Keywords: knowledge, HIV/AIDS, VCCT, Constraints, Antenatal Mothers Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 10(1) 2006: pp. 6-1