Birth Preparedness Plans and Status Disclosure Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV Who are Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Ibadan, Southwest, Nigeria.

Background: Promoting the maternal health of pregnant women who are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; [PWLH]) is key to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. Thus, inadequate birth preparedness plans, non-institutional delivery, and status concealment among PWLH contribute to the spread of HIV infection and threaten the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the birth preparedness plan and status disclosure among PWLH, as well as the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women. Methods: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design; a quantitative approach was used for data collection. Three healthcare facilities that represented the three levels of healthcare institutions and referral centers for the care of PWLH in the Ibadan metropolis were selected for the recruitment process. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 77 participants within the targeted population. Ethical approval was obtained prior to the commencement of data collection. Results: The prevalence rate of HIV infection among the participants was 3.7%. Only 37.1% of the participants had a birth preparedness plan. A total of 40% of the participants tested for HIV, because testing was compulsory for antenatal registration. Only 7.1% of the participants had their status disclosed to their partners. Although 90% of the participants proposed delivering their babies in a hospital, only 80% of these participants had their status known in their proposed place of birth. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: The prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women is very low, which is an indication of improved maternal health. However, the level of birth preparedness plan and status disclosure to partners are equally low, and these factors can hinder PMTCT. Institutional delivery should be encouraged among all PWLH, and their HIV status must be disclosed at their place of birth.

Lumbar spinal mobility changes among adults with advancing age.

BACKGROUND: Limitations in spinal mobility can interfere with the attainment of important functional skills and activities of daily living and restrictions in spinal mobility are usually the earliest and reliable indicator of diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the differences of lumbar spinal mobility among healthy adults with advancing age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The modified Schober's method was used to measure anterior flexion. The guideline of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons was adapted to measure lateral flexion and extension. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that spinal mobility decreases with advancing age. The most significant (P < 0.05) differences occurred between the two youngest and the two oldest age categories. CONCLUSION: Using these data, we developed normative values of spinal mobility for each sex and age group. This study helps the clinicians to understand and correlate the restrictions of lumbar spinal mobility due to age and differentiate the limitations due to disease.