Abstract

This study examined knowledge and awareness regarding HIV and AIDS among pregnant women in Butwal, Nepal. Pregnant women were selected using a systematic random sampling method from the antenatal care registry at every 5th and 10th interval. Although 80% of women mentioned unprotected sexual contact as the major route of HIV transmission, only 36.7% women knew that HIV can be transmitted from the infected mothers to their babies. Approximately half of the women (53.0%) mentioned foreign employees as a vulnerable group for HIV infection, followed by multiple sexual partners (41.0%), intravenous drug users (40.0%), commercial sex workers (35.0%), and labor migrants (25.0%). Although 71.7% women knew that proper use of a condom could easily prevent HIV transmission, few women knew other preventive ways (such as use of disposable syringes). Implementation of effective health education programs on HIV infection is needed for pregnant women in the study area.

Key words: Education, awareness, HIV and AIDS, pregnant women.