Incidence of HIV among Pregnant Women Attending Ante-Natal Clinic in General Hospital Kaltungo, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sero-prevalence diagnosis of HIV among six hundred and ninety-one (691) pregnant women attending antenatal Clinic in General Hospital Kaltungo was carried out from the month of December, 2011 to May, 2012. Blood samples obtained from pregnant women of different age groups, social and economic status were screened using Abbott determine rapid test strip. Out of the 691 sera collected, 65 (9.4%) were HIV sero-positive. The prevalence rate was 15 in 15-24 years age group, 45 in 25-34 age group and 5 in 35 years and above. This result indicates highest incidence rate among age group 25-35 years which is a sexually active age group. Chi square analysis at 5% confidence level revealed that at 2 degree of freedom age plays a role in the prevalence rate. Actions should therefore be taken to prevent mother to child transmission and also control the spread of the infection.

Incidence of Vertical-Transmission of HIV and Its Correlation with Maternal Gestational Age at Antenatal Booking in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

“…The reasons may be because this age group constitutes about 70% of the total number of pregnant women worldwide and among the most sexually active. This finding is in agreement with many earlier studies in Nigeria [7,16] and elsewhere in Africa [12]. The least prevalence rate (1.6%) occurred among 14-20 years age group.…”

“…This notwithstanding, the study facilities are not only the biggest in the state but also with the largest turnout of antenatal attendees that cut across every social strata. Our current prevalence rate is also lower than some earlier reports within and outside Nigeria [7][8][9]. A comparable rate of 4.1% had been reported in Yenagoa [10], 3.0% in Port Harcourt [11] and 5.6% in Tanzania [12].…”