Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Seropositive HIV and HBsAg Cases among Women Booking for Antenatal Care at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are global public health problems. These infections during pregnancy increase the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality, and also pose a risk to the fetus due to mother to child transmission.
 Objective: To determine the prevalence of seropositive HIV and HBsAg cases amongst pregnant women at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
 Methodology: A retrospective review of hospital and laboratory records of all pregnant women booked at RSUTH in two years, from May 2017 to April 2019, was carried out. Data on patients’ age, parity and educational level and reactivity of HIV and HBsAg test at booking were retrieved using structured proforma and analyzed using Epi Info Version 7. Test for significance using Chi-square was set at a significant level of P<0.05.
 Results: 3560 patients had HIV and HBsAg screening out of which 148 (4.2%) and 9 (0.3%) respectively were positive. The comorbidity rate in this study was 0.06%. The mean age was 31.5±4.7 years and the mean gestational age at booking was 22.1±6.8 weeks. There was no significant relationship between their age (χ2 = 2.690, p-value=0.442) and parity (χ2 = 3.759, p-value = 0.145) with HIV seropositivity, but these were significant for HBsAg (χ2 = 13.691, p-value = 0.003) (χ2 = 13.121, p-value=0.001). Educational status was significant for HIV (χ2 = 16.188, p-value=0.000) but not for HBsAg (χ2 = 0.229, p-value=0.892).
 Conclusion: The seroprevalence rate of HIV and HBsAg in this study were low. HIV seroprevalence was significantly affected by lower education, while HBsAg seroprevalence was significantly affected by younger maternal age and nulliparity. Continued screening of pregnant women for these infections remains valuable and further community-based studies to identify risk factors are recommended.

Factors Influencing the Booking Gestational Age Among Antenatal Clinic Attendees at Primary Health Centers in South West, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The mean gestational age at booking of the respondents in this study was 23.0 ± 6.6 weeks. This is similar to the finding at Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, where the authors reported a mean of 22.1 ± 6.8 weeks (Awoyesuku et al, 2019). A much lower mean gestational age at booking of 18.9 ± 7.8 weeks was found by Adegbola & Kuku (2015) in Lagos and 19.4 ± 8.14 weeks in Abuja, North-Central Nigeria (Zaman et al, 2019).…”

“…Onoh et al, (2012) in a south-eastern state reported a similar prevalence of 83.1%. Considering booking by trimester, 11.1% booked during the first trimester while the majority of the respondents (54.2%) initiated their antenatal care during the second trimester which is in line with the findings from the Port-Harcourt study where the majority booked in the second trimester (Awoyesuku et al, 2019). These findings demonstrated the continuing problem of late antenatal booking in Nigeria and many other developing countries, which are not in line with the WHO recommendation (Adegbola & Kuku, 2015; Adekanle & Isawumi, 2008).…”

“…It favors more accurate ultrasound-assisted gestational age determination, especially in women who are unsure of their last menstrual period (LMP). It provides an opportunity to review the medical and obstetric history of pregnant women, perform a physical examination, conduct appropriate investigations, give dietary advice, give pregnancy-related health counseling, and arrange for a suitable antenatal care plan for the rest of the pregnancy (Awoyesuku et al, 2019). It also provides opportunities for preventive health care services such as immunization against neonatal tetanus, prophylactic treatment of malaria through the use of intermittent preventive treatment approach, and HIV counseling and testing.…”

“…Antenatal care (ANC) is an important maternal health care service that prevents adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is the care that increases the possibility of favorable pregnancy outcomes, providing therapeutic interventions known to be effective; and educating pregnant women about planning for safe birth, emergencies during pregnancy and how to deal with them (Awoyesuku et al, 2019; Onoh et al, 2012).…”

“…The first antenatal visit otherwise known as the booking visit should take place in early pregnancy, prior to 14 weeks (Awoyesuku et al, 2019; Jeremiah et al, 2015). Early initiation of ANC has several benefits.…”