Prevalence of Hiv Infection Among Pregnant Women Attending Ajiko Medical Clinic, Damaturu, Nigeria - Prevalence of Hiv Infection Among Pregnant Women Attending Ajiko Medical Clinic, Damaturu, Nigeria - Open Access Pub

Human immunodeficiency viruses causes HIV infection in humans belongs to two species of Lentivirus. It damages the cells of immune system which leads to weak immune system and the ability to fight from infections and diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence rate of HIV infection among pregnant women of different age groups attending Ajiko medical clinic, Damaturu, Nigeria. The prevalence rate was maximum (12.5%) in 36-45 age group and minimum (5%) in 26-35 age group but their was no HIV infection in 15-25 age group. The overall prevalence rate among pregnant women was 4%. General knowledge , training and campaigns of HIV prevention need to be tailored towards older women of age group 36-45 because of high prevalence rate. DOI10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-19-2746 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the major disease spread through certain body fluids that weakens the immune system by destroying the cells such as CD4 cells or T cells of human immune system. It is one of the major health problem worldwide. Around two-third (68%) population of sub-Sahara Africa is affected by Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is 12% of the total world’s population. The prevalence rate of HIV infection in Nigeria is around 3.6% which is third largest number of HIV infected people in the world 1, 6, 7. Around 90% of HIV infection are caused through mother to child infection. In Nigeria nearly sixty thousand children are infected through transmission of HIV by their mother. Paediatric HIV has been virtually wiped out in many developing countries. Large decrease in the number of HIV infection among children was found in Ghana and South Africa from 2009 to 2012. In Nigeria only 58% of pregnant women received antenatal care in 2008 while in 2009 only 22% of HIV positive pregnant women received antiretroviral for the prevention of HIV transmission to her baby and 13% of pregnant women were tested for HIV infection 2, 4, 9, 10 Study Area The study was carried out in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, Nigeria. According to 2006 census the population of Damaturu is 88,100 with 25.2 degree Centigrade average temperature. Sample Size Fifty pregnant women attending Ajiko Medical Clinic, Damaturu were target for the study. Their age and HIV infection were analysed. HIV Screening Women attending Ajiko Medical Clinic, Damaturu were tested for HIV infection by using ELISA test. Prevalence of HIV infection in them was calculated. Prevalence Rate Prevalence Rate was Calculated by Using the Following Formula The study was carried out in Damaturu, the