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Maternal HIV seropositivity and perinatal/neonatal outcome at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: To determine the maternal HIV seropositivity and perinatal/neonatal outcome.
Study Design, Setting and Subjects: A retrospective audit of all cases of HIV seropositivity among the antenatal mothers seen at the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, over a three-year period (January 2001-December 2003) as well as the outcome of their babies was carried out.
Results: Out of 9 865 women who registered for antenatal care during the study period, 1 704 (17.3%) were screened for HIV infection. Of these, 91 (5.3%) were confirmed positive. Twenty-four mothers (26.4%) absconded after diagnosis and 67 case files (73.6%) were available for analysis. The highest seropositive rate occurred in the age group 26-30 years constituting 41.8% (28/67) while primigravidae alone accounted for 28.4% (19/67). Most of the mothers were housewives (31.3%, 21/67) while their husbands were mainly farmers (37.4%, 25/67) and transporters (28.4%, 19/67). Fifteen mothers (22.4%) showed features suggestive of AIDS. Of the 66 babies, 49 (74.2%) were term, 17 (25.8%) were preterm while 56 (84.8%) were of low birth weight (<2 500g), 24 (36.4%) were admitted for presumed sepsis while 4 had proven sepsis. None had fetal abnormality. There were 15 deaths giving a mortality of 22.7% (Perinatal death of 12/66 (18.2%) and neonatal death of 3/66 (4.5%).
Conclusion: High HIV seropositive prevalence rate, high rate of loss to follow up (abscondment), high positive rate in young mothers with adverse perinatal/neonatal outcome call for cost effective measures to be put in place to take care of HIV positive mothers and their babies as these were evidently lacking in the study area.
Keywords: maternal HIV seropositivity, perinatal, neonatal, outcome
Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vol. 22(1) 2005: 33-36
