Effectiveness of Health Education in Improving Pregnant Women's Knowledge of Triple Elimination Screening for HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B

Abstract : Background: Triple elimination screening for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B among pregnant women is a strategic program in maternal and child health services to prevent intrauterine and mother-to-child transmission. The success of this program is determined not only by the availability of testing services but also by pregnant women’s level of knowledge regarding the benefits, procedures, and timing of triple elimination screening. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of health education in improving pregnant women’s knowledge of triple elimination screening for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Methods: This study used a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach. The study sample consisted of 196 pregnant women. Data were collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire to assess pregnant women’s knowledge. Respondent characteristics were analyzed descriptively. Knowledge was assessed before and after health education using a score ranging from 0 to 100. Differences in mean scores were analyzed using the paired sample t-test with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Most respondents were aged 20-35 years (144 respondents; 73.5%), came from Gulak Galik Village (91 respondents; 46.4%), were unemployed (182 respondents; 92.9%), and underwent screening in the first trimester (150 respondents; 76.5%). Triple elimination screening results showed no reactive HIV or syphilis cases, whereas reactive HBsAg was found in 4 respondents (2.0%). The mean knowledge score increased from 57.59 ± 10.11 before education to 81.02 ± 11.11 after education. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference in mean knowledge scores based on the paired sample t-test (t = 49.37; p < 0.001).