HIV sero-positivity among antenatal clinic attendees and their discordant partners in Lagos State, 2013 - 2016

Abstract

Introduction : Nigeria has the second largest number of people living with HIV (PLWH) (3.1 million) after South Africa (5.6 million) and accounts for 10% of the global HIV burden. Lagos State is one of the priority States in Nigeria with a high population (over 20 million). Sero-discordance applies when one partner of an intimate couple pair’s HIV result is positive and other negative. A discordant status is particularly risky because regular coitus without condoms is more probable in stable long-term partnerships (married or cohabiting). The aim is to study the trends of HIV sero-positivity among antenatal clinic attendees and their discordant partners. Methods : secondary data from the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) was extracted through the District Health Information System (DHIS) platform, cleaned and analysed with Microsoft excel for frequency and proportion. Results : in 2013 the HIV prevalence amongst ANC attendee in the health facilities of Lagos state was 2.83% with slight increase to 4.77% in 2014 and a decline to 2.77% and 1.88% in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In 2013 only 2.35% of women knew their HIV status at antenatal (ANC), the proportion increased slightly to 4.35% in 2014 with a decline to 2.54% and 1.69% in 2015 and 2016 respectively. There were 2300 (37.6%), 2347 (27.0%), 2314 (32.6%) and 1527(35.6%) sero-discordant partners in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. Of the sero discordant partners 1780, 1770, 1573 and 1276 were partners of HIV Positive women who tested Negative in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. Also, of the sero discordant partners 520 (22.6%), 577 (24.6%), 741(32%) and 251(16.4%) were partners of HIV Negative pregnant women who tested HIV Positive for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. Conclusion : the data revealed a decline in HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Lagos State; however HIV sero-discordant partners may be responsible for new Paediatric infection within heterosexual transmission setting. We therefore recommend that couple counseling should be enforced during ANC.