Medico-demographic Features of Pregnant women with HIV Infection

Abstract

Objective To assess medical and demographic characteristics of HIV infected pregnant women attending obstetric care.

Results Mean maternal age was 25.1 years, 62.1% were primigravida and 16.9% had previous history of abortion. Employee and commercial sex worker accounted for 48.2% and 2% of the cases and 6.7% had previous history of commercial sex workers. Mean age at first marriage was 21.1 years. The indications for blood testing included HIV-positive sexual partners, condyloma acuminata infection, positive VDRL, pyrexia of unknown origin and having a previous child with AIDS. Most of the cases were asymptomatic HIV infection, but 52.3% had complications during various periods of pregnancy. Deliveries with viable fetus occurred in 56.6% with mean birthweight of 2,883.7 gm, while 30.3% pregnancies were terminated with therapeutic abortion. Tubal resection and hormonal implantation were performed in 45.3% and 26.3% respectively. The prevalence of serodiscordance occurred in 9.2% of the test. Anti-HIV testing during pregnancy should always be considered with pre-and post-test counseling since this process will allow them to make a proper and correct decision with regards to children, their family life. Prevention of disease spreading and proper medical care are also the benefit of the test.