Evaluation of Some Factors Associated with Mother to Child HIV Transmission in Some States in the North Central Part of Nigeria

Abstract

In developing countries, despite the availability of proven interventions for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission, HIV in children is still a largely uncontrolled epidemic. Data of infants were collected from infant’s medical record and mother’s history charts from four states in North central part of Nigeria. Socio-demographic data such as age, occupation, place of delivery and mode of delivery and the rate prevalence in different states were also collected. The data were analyzed using chi-squared test with 95% confidence intervals and p-value (0.05). Out of one thousand four hundred and sixteen data collected on mode of child birth, the percentage mother to child transmission on children delivered through vaginal and cesarean surgery were 17.3% and 16.7%, respectively. Children delivered at home had the highest percentage HIV infection at 19.7%; while children delivered at private hospital had the lowest 16.5%. Younger mothers between the ages of 17-25 had the highest rate of mother to child transmission. Benue and Plateau states had the highest rate of mother to child transmission 21.7% and 20.4%, respectively compared to Nassarawa and Bauchi with infection rate 13.2 and 12.7%, respectively. The data collected in this study demonstrate the factors associated with mother to child transmission of HIV in some states in north central Nigeria.