HIV in Pregnancy: an Assessment of Obstetric Morbidities in Benue North Central Nigeria

Type Journal Article - World Journal of Life Sciences and Medical Research
Title HIV in Pregnancy: an Assessment of Obstetric Morbidities in Benue North Central Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 3
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 15-20
Abstract
Benue state has the highest sero prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria at 12.7% which is about 3 times the national average
of 4.1%. Few studies have been carried out from the obstetric perspectives in the state since the advent of HAART for
PMTCT in the country. This prospective study was targeted at the delivery outcome of HIV infected pregnant women.
Fetal birth weight, low birth weight, still birth, low Apgar scores, labour dynamics and maternal mortality were measured
in all HIV positive and negative women who delivered at Federal Medical Centre Makurdi from January 1st to December
31st 2012. There were 2218 deliveries in 2012 but 1965(88.6%) had their retroviral status determined using HIV
screening tests, amongst these 323(16.4%) were HIV positive. Access to triple ART was 92.6% and the mean duration of
use was 27months. Exposed babies had an average birth weight of 2.6kg compared to 3.1kg. They had a relative risk of 3.8
for preterm deliveries, 2.5 for LBW, 2.8 for still births, 5.1 for low APGAR scores. Despite delayed membrane ruptures,
Labour kinetics as well as maternal morbidities and mortality were similar irrespective of status. In conclusion, babies
born to HIV infected mothers have high risk for morbidities and mortality but the maternal complications were
comparable irrespective of status.

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