KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF HEALTH WORKERS TOWARDS MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION AMONG HIV-POSITIVE PREGNANT MOTHERS AT RAPHA HEALTH CENTRE III. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/pc0d6727Keywords:
Attitude, Depression, Knowledge, Perinatal depression, Practice, Rapha Health Centre IIIAbstract
Background
The purpose of the study was to identify the knowledge, attitude, and practice of health workers towards the management of depression among HIV-positive pregnant mothers at Rapha Health Center III, Gomba district.
Methodology
The study adopted a cross-sectional study design with quantitative data collection methods. A purposive sampling method was used to select 30 study participants. A questionnaire was used to obtain data which were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 in the form of tables and figures.
Results
The study revealed that (40%) of participants were below 30 years of age, 63%) respondents were single, (57%) of participants had attained a diploma level of education. 50% of the respondents had a working experience of 4-6 years. (87%) of the respondents agreed that perinatal depression needs a medical intervention (60%) of respondents had heard about screening questionnaires. The majority 20(67%) of the participants agreed that perceived and experienced stigma can cause patients to be less likely to pursue treatment. (80%) of the respondents agreed that recognizing and managing depression is often an important part of managing other health problems during the perinatal period. 70%) of the respondents did not routinely screen their patients for perinatal depression with a screening questionnaire (73%) of the respondents reported that their health facility did not carry out regular training about depression in pregnant mother
Conclusion
The study concluded that most of the health workers were knowledgeable about the management of depression with negative attitudes towards its management and poor practice hence health educating mothers regarding the prevention of depression is recommendable.
Recommendation
Health workers should be curious to acquire more knowledge, change their attitude, and practice regularly on how to assess for depression and the proper management protocol.
