Abstract
This study examined the knowledge, attitude, and utilisation of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) services among pregnant women in Itigidi Community, Abi Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted to investigate the relationship between women’s knowledge levels, attitudes, and socio-cultural or personal factors, and how these influence the uptake of HTC services during pregnancy. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 133 pregnant women, selected through simple random sampling. The data collected were analysed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics and one-sample ttests to test three null hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The results revealed that the majority of respondents demonstrated high levels of knowledge regarding HIV transmission and the role of antenatal testing. Most also held positive attitudes toward HTC, acknowledging its importance in protecting their unborn children. However, factors such as fear of a positive result, stigma, partner influence, and traditional beliefs were identified as barriers to full utilisation. The t-test results showed statistically significant relationships between knowledge, attitude, and socio-cultural factors, and HTC utilisation (p < 0.001), leading to the rejection of all three null hypotheses. The study concluded that improving knowledge and attitudes alone is insufficient without addressing underlying socio-cultural constraints. It recommended a multi-pronged approach that integrates education, psychosocial support, male participation, and stigma reduction to enhance the uptake of HTC services.