Mother-to-infant transmission of HIV is a major problem in Sub-Saharan Africa despite free or subsidized antiretroviral treatment (ART), but is significantly reduced when mothers adhere to ART. Because potable water access is limited in low-resource countries, we investigated water access and ART adherence intention among HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers in Zambia.
Our convenience sample consisted of 150 pregnant or postpartum women receiving ART. Descriptive statistics compared type of water access by low and high levels of ART adherence intention.
Most (71%) had access to piped water, but 36% of the low-adherence intention group obtained water from a well, borehole, lake or stream, compared to only 22% of the high-adherence intention group. The low-adherence intention group was more rural (62%) than urban (38%) women but not statistically significant [unadjusted Prevalence Ratio (PR) 0.73, 95% CI: 0.52–1.02; adjusted PR 1.06, 95% CI: 0.78–1.45].
Providing potable water may improve ART adherence. Assessing available water sources in both rural and urban locations is critical when educating women initiating ART.