Prevalence of Anaemia Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Positive Pregnant Women at Booking in Orlu, South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Anaemia is the most commonly encountered haematological abnormality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients with estimates climbing as high as 95% depending on clinical settings. The twin effects of HIV infection and anaemia in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of anaemia among HIV positive pregnant women at booking at Orlu, South-East Nigeria.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of the case records of women who were screened for Human Immunedeficiency Virus and anaemia at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital from 1^st March 2008 to 28^th February 2010 was done. Data on age, parity, educational status, marital status, haemoglobin concentration and retroviral status were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 13.
Results: Nine hundred and twenty one pregnant women were screened at booking within the study period. The age range of the women was  8-39years with a mean age of 28.22 ± 5.04years. One hundred and six (11.5%) of the women tested and were confirmed positive to HIV 1 & 2 antibodies. Anaemia was significantly higher among HIV positive pregnant women than in HIV negative pregnant women (75.5% vs 57.9%; P=0.001). Seventy seven point three percent (75/97) of women ≤ 20 years were anaemic. This was shown to be significant (P=0. 000). Three hundred and thirty three (69.2%) of the women that had only secondary education were significantly (P=0.000} more anaemic than those that had postsecondary education.
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of anaemia among HIV positive pregnant women at booking at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH, Orlu. Anaemia was also more significant in younger age (≤20years} and lesser educated women (only secondary
.school}

Key Words: Anaemia, HIV, Pregnancy, Booking, Orlu