HIV Prevalence amongst Pregnant Women Clients Attending Antenatal Clinic at the Faith Alive Foundation and PMTCT Centre, Jos Plateau State

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.