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.

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.

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.

CSMR is an evolving entity in obstetrics practice in the developing countries. Delay in conception, fear of labor pain and loss of baby during labor appear to be strong motivations.

Maternal educational level is an important factor in the early identification of abnormality of fetal movement. The unsatisfactory knowledge and poor perception behavior among respondents reflect the need for a guideline, particularly during antenatal care, on information and management of abnormal fetal movement in our setting to prevent avoidable stillbirth.

We investigated morbidity and factors associated with failed vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC). In a retrospective cohort study maternal and neonatal outcomes of women who underwent VBAC in three Nigerian University Teaching Hospitals were reviewed. Univariate, followed by multivariate analyses, were conducted. VBAC was successful in 683 of 1,013 women (67.4%), whereas 330 (32.6%) had failed VBAC. Failed VBAC was associated with higher incidence of chorioamnionitis, postpartum hemorrhage, blood transfusion, uterine rupture, hysterectomy, and composite major neonatal morbidities. Younger age, lack of previous vaginal delivery, induction of labor and fetal weight >4,000 g were risk factors for failed VBAC. A majority of women who try VBAC achieve a vaginal delivery. Failed VBAC is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and is somewhat predictable.