No abstract

About 80% of HIV-positive pregnant women in our unit have a seronegative spouse. The prevalence, pattern and determinants of spousal disclosure of HIV serostatus was evaluated among 166 HIV-positive pregnant women receiving antiretroviral treatment. Although 146 women (88%) disclosed their HIV serostatus, 20 women (12%) did not disclose their status to their spouse. Non-disclosure was significantly associated with nulliparous (p=0.024) and unmarried women (p=0.026). Fear, regarding spread of the information (57.8%), stigmatisation (53%) and deterioration in the relationship with the spouse (47%) were the three commonest reasons for non-disclosure. Disclosure of HIV-positive status remains a sensitive issue among infected pregnant women. Strategies to reduce the stigma associated with HIV infection, appropriate management of the information following disclosure of seropositive status by HIV-infected persons are necessary to encourage disclosure to sexual partners and ultimately prevent new HIV infections.

Intimate partner violence is a prevalent public health problem among HIV-infected pregnant women in our community and it may hinder efforts to scale up prevention of mother-child transmission programs, especially in developing countries. Screening for intimate partner violence to identify abused women should be incorporated into these programs to offer these women optimal care.

Pregnancy-related domestic violence is an important health problem in this community in southern Nigeria. Experience of violence before the pregnancy, HIV infection, and regular alcohol consumption are risk factors.

Anaemia in pregnancy, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labour and birth weight less than 2,500 g are important complications among HIV positive pregnant women. This information is vital for strategic antenatal care planning to improve obstetric and perinatal outcome in these women.