Abstract
Introduction: HIV infection and AIDS is a public health problem worldwide, particularly affecting the populace in resource challenged setting like sub-saharan Africa. Women of reproductive age are mostly affected and infected with the HIV disease. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 216 randomly selected women that booked for antenatal care at the Faith Alive Foundation and PMTCT centre Jos between 1st July to 31st December, 2014 was carried out. Information regarding age, parity, gestational age at booking, educational status and HIV sero-status of the clients was analysed. Screening test was conducted in a serial two step approval using determine and UNIGOLD as the confirmatory test, while STAT-PAK was the tie-beaker with discordant result as per the national algorithm. Positive samples were confirmed by western blot method. Result: A total of 18 women out of the 216 women studied were positive giving a sero-prevalence rate of 8.3%. The highest sero-prevalent rate was amongst 25 - 29 years age group (31.5%). Women of parity 1 - 4 constituted the highest group of 62.9%. Majority of the women 65.7% booked in the second trimester while 26.9% booked in the 3rd trimester. Most of the women 47.2% had secondary school education while only 5.6% of them had no form of education. Conclusion: HIV infection prevalence rate among antenatal attendants at Faith Alive Foundation and PMTCT centre Jos is still high. Multisectorial approach and intervention strategies should be further scaled up for the prevention of vertical transmission of the virus. However, it is worth noting that it is mainly an HIV/AIDS hospital which should have affected the outcome.
Highlights
HIV infection and AIDS is a public health problem worldwide, affecting the populace in resource challenged setting like sub-saharan Africa
It is important to note that without interventions, the rate of HIV Mother To Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV ranges from 25% to 40% with effective intervention, HIV MTCT rates have been reduced below
Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics committee of Faith alive Foundation (FAF) and Jos North Local Government Health unit where FAF is located in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria
Summary
HIV infection and AIDS is a public health problem worldwide, affecting the populace in resource challenged setting like sub-saharan Africa. As part of the initiative, the country has worked to ensure early access to prenatal care, HIV and syphilis testing for both pregnant women and their partners, treatment for women who test positive and their babies, caesarean deliveries and substitution of breastfeeding. These services are provided as part of an equitable, accessible and universal health system in which maternal and child health programs are integrated with programs for HIV and sexually transmitted infections [4]
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