Sociocultural Risk Factors Associated With HIV Seroconversion among Breastfeeding Women at a Rural County in Kenya

Abstract

Abstract: Postpartum period is a period after birth which is the most neglected aspect of maternal health, yet a time of high risk for maternal mortality. While many women access antenatal care, much fewer women globally have access to postnatal care. It is clearly evident that some women who test HIV negative in pregnancy end up testing HIV positive post delivery. Although most pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV negative, they remain at risk for HIV infection in the breastfeeding period. The purpose of this study was to describe the sociocultural risk factors associated with HIV seroconversion among breastfeeding women in a Rural county in Kenya. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Homabay district hospital, in Homa Bay County in Kenya. The sample was 178 breastfeeding women who tested HIV negative at the last HIV test after delivery. The results revealed that violence of a partner to the women correlated with her positive HIV test (X2=128.112, df =3 p <0.0001). Refusal to use condom by the woman’s partner was as well associated with the mother’s positive HIV test (X2 =109.926, df = 3, p <0.001) and partner status in last HIV test (x2 =20.944, df=3, p <0.001). Lastly, being forced to have sex correlated with mothers postive HIV test (x2 =118.657, df=3, p <0.001). 2. Therefore, the study demonstrated that domestic violence is a major contributor to unprotected sex which therefore escalates the spread of HIV infection. Wife inheritance, as opposed to widow cleansing is still a major cultural practice in Luo culture which leads to spread of HIV infection.