Socio - demographic characteristics of HIV patients diagnosed at immunization centres in Calabar, South – south, Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 3.2 million children were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) at the end of 2013, mostly in sub- Saharan Africa. Socio- economic and demographic factors do not only affect viral transmission but also the success of preventive strategies and treatment.

Objective: To determine the socio -demographic characteristics of mothers, and the relationship between maternal and HIV status of their infants attending immunization clinics in Calabar.

Methods: Using multistage sampling method, 330 subjects were enrolled and screened from 63 immunization centres. The sociodemographic characteristic of
each infant’s mother was documented. The results of Rapid test for mothers and Dried Blood Spots (DBS) results for infants were compared.

Results: Of the 330 subjects recruited, 173 (52.4%) were males while 157(47.6%) were females. Mean age of the infants was 9.20 ± 3.1 weeks. Twenty four mothers and infants tested positive for HIV antibodies. After confirmatory tests using HIV Deoxyribosenucleic acid (DNA PCR), 14(58.3%) out of 24 antibody seropositive infants were infected. The transmission rate after confirmation was 58.3%.

Conclusion: Parental education, social class and low maternal Antiretroviral drug (ARV) use were responsible for transmission. It is therefore recommended that health education on ARV use during antenatal period and HIV status of mother baby pair be done at immunization centres. HIV positive mothers and babies should be promptly referred for therapy.

Keywords: Immunization, HIV, Infants, DNA PCR, PMTCT, ARV