Challenges Confronting the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS in Offa Local Government Area, Kwara-State

This study investigated the challenges confronting the prevention of mothers-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother-to-child has been a rampant phenomenon in Offa L.G.A. A descriptive research of survey type was used, the population for the study covered all the health workers in Offa Local Government Area, 145 respondents were sampled for the study. Three research questions were raised and three hypotheses were generated which were tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The research instrument used for the study was a questionnaire which was validated and tested for reliability. A reliability co-efficient of 0.76r was obtained; using pearson product moment correlation. The instrument was administered by the researchers and some trained research assistant. A descriptive statistic of frequency count and percentage was used for the personal data while the inferential statistic of chi-square was used at 0.05 alpha level of significance to test the hypotheses set for the study.The null hypotheses set were rejected, the findings of this study revealed that challenges such as non-disclosure of HIV/AIDS status, inadequate  staff training and  inavailability of antiretroviral drugs are parts of the major challenges militating against  the proper  implementation  of prevention  of mother to child  transmission of HIV/AIDS.It was recommended that there should be adequate staff training to improve their knowledge on the transmission of HIV/AIDS especially in the area of vertical transmission with appropriate treatment. Also, antiretroviral drugs should be available in Health centres and hospitals for the treatment of HIV/AIDS positive mothers and prevention of vertical transmission of the infection, lastly  HIV status  of pregnant women should be known in order to commence treatment immediatel

Barriers to hepatitis B virus screening of pregnant women in primary healthcare centers in Nigeria: health workers’ perspective

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening is an important component of antenatal care for pregnant women in Nigeria. However, the screening rates remain low, particularly at primary healthcare centers (PHCs). The objective of this study was to identify the barriers affecting antenatal HBV screening in PHCs in Nigeria from the perspective of health workers. Methods We conducted a survey among 30 health workers from 30 PHCs (one per PHC) across three states (Akwa Ibom, Anambra, and Kaduna) in Nigeria. An open-ended questionnaire was used to obtain written responses on the perceived barriers limiting antenatal HBV screening in PHCs and their recommended solutions to the identified barriers. The data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Results The perceived barriers exist at patient, provider and health system levels. They included: lack of test kits, unaffordability of HBV test, shortage of trained personnel, poor awareness among pregnant women, knowledge of HBV among health workers, high cost of antiviral treatment, and unavailability of HBV vaccine. The recommended solutions to the identified barriers were: making test kits and vaccines available and free, creating awareness about HBV, and capacity-building interventions for health workers. Conclusions HBV screening of pregnant women attending PHCs in Nigeria appears to be affected by multilevel barriers. As the country continues to work towards eliminating HBV, these highlighted barriers at the patient, provider and health system levels must be addressed through effective and sustainable interventions

An analysis of the uptake of anti-retroviral treatment among pregnant women in Nigeria from 2015 to 2020.

The percentage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive pregnant women that receive anti-retroviral treatment in Nigeria is low and has been declining. Consequently, 14% of all new infections among children in 2020 occurred in Nigeria. A detailed analysis of available data was undertaken to generate evidence to inform remedial actions. Data from routine service delivery, national surveys and models were analyzed for the six-year period from 2015 to 2020. Numbers and percentages were calculated for antenatal registrations, HIV testing, HIV positive pregnant women and HIV positive pregnant women on antiretroviral treatment. The Mann-Kendall Trend Test was used to determine the presence of time trends when the p-value was less than 0.05. In 2020, only 35% of an estimated 7.8 million pregnant women received antenatal care at a health facility that provided and reported PMTCT services. Within these facilities, the percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women on anti-retroviral treatment from 71% in 2015 to 88% in 2020. However, declining HIV positivity rates at these antenatal clinics and an absence of expansion of PMTCT services to other pregnant women due to cost-efficiency considerations contributed to a progressive decline in national PMTCT coverage rates. To achieve elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, all pregnant women should be offered a HIV test, all who are HIV positive should be given anti-retroviral treatment, and all PMTCT services should be reported