Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Background & objectives: Vertical transmission of HIV, HBV and HCV is associated with high risk of maternal complications, fetal death or impaired mental and physical health. A standing regulation from Government on screening of all pregnant women is often avoided by the patients and hospitals alike. This study was therefore designed to assess the incidence of these infections among antenatal patients with the view of re-emphasizing (with data) the need for screening by all health facilities of antenatal patients. Methods: The study was carried out among four hundred and thirty-two (432) pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics of State General Hospital and Inland Maternity Center, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. Two milliliters (2 ml) of blood samples were collected from volunteers between April and September 2015 and screened for, HIV, HBV and HCV using rapid chromatographic immunoassay methods in accordance with the national algorithm. Results: The age of the patients ranged between 15 and 40 years (mean age = 25. 4 years). A total of 11(2.6%); 8(1.9%) and 3(0.7%) patients were seropositive for HIV, HBV and HCV infections respectively. Co-infections of HIV and HBV were diagnosed among 3(0.7%) of the volunteers. There was no case of co-infection of HIV with HCV or HBV with HCV. Contacts were made with the husbands of all seropositive patients. Conclusion: The prevalence rates recorded for these three infectious diseases though, lower than the national averages, call for an aggressive advocacy for compulsory screening of all antenatal patients by all health facilities. The multiplication effect of infected pregnant women in the studied community can be reduced or eliminated with early detection of infection through screenings like this. Reduction in cost of laboratory investigations to serve as incentive to the patients is highly advocated.

Biography

Festus A Olajubu has trained as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology, NVRI, Vom, Nigeria, Infection Control Practitioner at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria and Medical Microbiologist at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria. He has completed his Doctoral degree in Medical Microbiology and Public Health from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is a Senior Lecturer in Microbiology Department of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria. He has twenty-eight (28) papers published in local and international journals. He has taken part in researches organized by Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) and Department for International Development (DFID) on HIV, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). He is a Member of American Society for Microbiology, Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Infection Control Society of Nigeria and Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria. Infectious diseases diagnosis is his current area of interest.