Distribution of haemoglobin genotypes and anaemic status of HIV positive pregnant women in Enugu: a hospital based study

Abstract

This present 4 – year comparative study investigated the distribution pattern of Haemoglobin genotypes and anaemic status of HIV positive pregnant women in Enugu. Haemoglobin variants(HbAA, HbAS, HbSS) in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the study site were determined by electrophoreisis. HIV screening tests were done using the Quick test kits. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) was estimated by using standard procedures. Results showed a prevalence rate of 83.3% was obtained for HbAA HIV+ pregnant women as against a 70.1% for HIV- pregnant women; HbAS rates were 16.7% for HIV+ pregnant women and 29.9% for HIV- pregnant women. For the non- pregnant women (control), the rates were 78.63% for HbAA and 21.4% for HbAS. No HbSS genotype was observed in the HIV+ pregnant women and HIV- pregnant women and the control respectively. The HIV seroprevalence rate of 3.67 +- 0.40%(SEM) was obtained for this study. The PCVs of the HIV+ pregnant women with HbAA and HbAS (1999 – 2002) fell into levels indicative of anaemia when compared with those of HIV- pregnant women and the control. Increased awareness, compulsory pre-marital sickling and HIV tests could be the possible reason for the low HIV seroprevalence and the absence of HbSS observed in this population.

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008 pp. 27-30