A survey of HIV- risk-related behaviours among pre-natal women in South-South, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

@#Human Immunodeficiency virus infection is a leading pandemic infectious disease of all races, ages and genders majorly transmitted heterosexually and through mother to child transmission. For its effective control the prevention of HIV risk-related practices among women of reproductive age and mother to child transmission becomes crucial. This study evaluated the HIV-risk-related behaviors among prenatal clinic attendees for effective prevention of its vertical transmission. This was a cross sectional study of 241 HIV prenatal clinic attendees at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, Bayelsa State. Data collected from 1st September 2016 to 31st March 2017 was analyzed with EPI INFO software. The mean age of the respondents was 30.5± 5.2 years and ranged 18-45 years. Majority of the respondents were of Ijaw ethnicity (57.7%), Christians (97.9%), married (95.4%), attained secondary level of education or below (50.2%) while 25.7% was unemployed. The rate of previous termination of unintended pregnancy was 42.3%, unintended index pregnancy 17.4% and significant among married participants (OR=0.15, P=0.005), non condom use before and during the index pregnancy was 66.4% and significant among the less literate subjects (OR=0.46, P=0.01). Awareness of partners HIV serostatus was 71.0% and significant among the younger participants (OR=0.43, P=0.004), less educated (OR=0.21, P<0.01) and the married (OR=12.47, P<0.03). Sex with multiple sexual partners was 6.6% and significant among those with lower education (OR=4.7, P=0.02) and married (OR=0.16, P=0.03). This data demonstrated significant HIV risk-related behaviors among the prenatal clinic attendees in this setting. This indicated improved prenatal HIV prevention campaign.