Abstract

Mother-to-child transmission could occur during pregnancy, labor and delivery; and after childbirth by breastfeeding. The prevention of HIV transmission from mothers living with HIV to their infants is built around the routine offer of HIV counseling and testing to all pregnant women along with other interventions. To assess knowledge, attitude and practice on PMTCT service among pregnant women attending ANC clinic in Ayder referral hospital. The study was conducted in Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray regional state from November 2012 to Jan 2013. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted with quantitative approach method in Ayder referral hospital. Of the total interviewed pregnant women all goes to the health institution for ANC follow up 187(100%),mothers, have knowledge about HIV 180(96.25%), know more than two ways of transmission129(71,67%), know more than two ways of protection for HIV 147(81,67%),know HIV can transmit from mother to child 180(96.26%),heard about PMTCT 180(96.26%), and heard about PMTCT from health center 118(65.55%). Study revealed that there is high knowledge about HIV but poor women’s practice on the breast feeding practice. This finding indicated that participants had a positive attitude towards PMTCT services. Majority of the women didn’t influence by their partners but men involvement is necessary for the encouragement and sensitization to accompany their partners for attending counseling services. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude and practice, PMTCT and women.