Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Pregnant Women Attending Traditional Birth Homes and Hospitals in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission is an important strategy for the control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. While the structure for this intervention programme exists within conventional antenatal care, infected pregnant women who prefer the services of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) could be at risk of being undetected. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women accessing antenatal care across conventional health facilities and traditional birth homes (TBHs) in Uyo, southern Nigeria.

Methods: The enrolled subjects were tested for HIV infection following the national algorithm. Three trained interviewers administered a structured questionnaire to obtain biodata, ascertain prior knowledge of status, and assess access to antiretroviral therapy. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.

Results: The socio-demographic characteristics of the enrolled pregnant women revealed a general late commencement of antenatal care (59% in TBHs and 47% in Hospitals commenced in the third trimester). Additionally, there were more of first-time pregnancy at TBHs (36.4%). The study observed a significantly higher prevalence of HIV infection (4.5%) among those attending traditional birth homes compared to those attending hospitals (2%) (p=0.002)

Conclusion: Undetected HIV infection among pregnant women attending traditional birth is significantly higher than the prevalence seen in conventional health facilities.