Foeto-maternal outcome of HIV-positive pregnant women on highly active antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

Background: A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in pregnant women is an important medical challenge. There exist varied reports on the foeto-maternal outcome amongst HIV positive women in Africa.
Aim: The study was to compare the foeto-maternal outcome among HIV-positive pregnant women who are on HAART with those that are HIV-negative.
Methods: A comparative, case-control study of booked HIV-positive and HIV-negative women attending ante-natal clinic (ANC) in Abuja. One hundred and five serial eligible HIV-positive women who booked for ante-natal care between October 8, 2012 and April 29, 2013 were recruited and matched with the control. They were followed up to six weeks post-partum. Live babies were tested for HIV using DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at six weeks post-partum. The data was analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16. Chisquare at < 0.05 at confidence level of 95% and Student t-test were used to determine significant association.
Results: There were 112 HIV positive pregnant women among 1683 pregnant women during the study period giving a prevalence of 6.7%. The rate of preterm delivery was significantly higher among the HIV positive women (33% Vs 18%, P= 0.005). There was no case of vertical transmission.
Conclusion: Maternal HIV infection was significantly associated with preterm delivery. There was no recorded vertical transmission. Strengthening the use of HAART may maintain zero vertical transmission among other precautionary measures.

Key words: HIV, HAART, pregnancy outcome, maternal and child health, vertical transmission, booked patient