Prevalence of HIV seropositivity in paediatric surgical patients at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi

Abstract

Background: HIV policy in the Department of Surgery of NAUTH is unit dependent. Because the paediatric surgery unit is a new one, we conducted this study to have a scientific basis on which to formulate a policy guiding management of paediatric surgical patients vis-avis HIV infection.
Aim: To help establish a policy on our HIV infected paediatric surgical patients.
Patient and Methods: All registered patients within the 4yr period whose parents gave consent were screened. Before 2003 our screening was by ELISA method and confirmation was by Western blot but from early 2003 screening / confirmation was by the rapid kit method.
Results: One thousand two hundred and twenty eight (1228) gave consent and were screened out of 1549 registered patients. Seven tested positive. Three of these were from a ‘single' mother, 2 from another with infertility who tried a few sexual partners before getting pregnant, one from a 14yr old sickler who has had 2 previous blood transfusions and one in a two year old girl with a hernia and severe cachexia.
Conclusion: Prevalence of HIV seropositivity is very low among paediatric surgical patients at NAUTH. Routine screening of patients is not necessary and should not form part of the policy. We recommend routine counselling of parents and provision of facilities for precautionary measures as the policy for now. Screening should be highly selective.

Keywords: Prevalence, HIV, Seroposivity, Children, NAUTH.

Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 11 (2) 2006: 108-110