The Prevalence of Dual Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis C Virus (HIV/HCV) Infection in Asymptomatic Pregnant Women in Benin City, Nigeria

Concerted efforts have been made to combat HIV infection in Nigerian. By contrast, much less attention has been paid to hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. These viruses have similar immuno-epidemiology.The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV/HIV dual infection among 269 antenatal attendees at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in southern Nigeria. The study was prospective and cross-sectional and consisted of the analysis of the sera of the participants for anti-HCV and HIV antibodies using ELISA. The result showed that 1.86% samples were HCV antibodies positive while 8.30% were seropositive for HIV-1 antibodies. There were no cases of dual infections. The HIV positive women and their babies had antiretroviral therapy. We conclude that dual HCV/HIV infection in pregnancy in Nigeria may be uncommon but suggest multicenter studies to determine the national prevalence while initiating strategies for their prevention (Afr J Reprod Health 2009; 13[2]:97-108)

Seroprevalence of hepatitis c viral antidodies in pregnancy in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria

No Abstract

Changing Trends In Maternal Mortality In A Developing Country

Objective: To have a 5-year review of the maternal mortality ratio in the largest centrally located Mission hospital in Benin City where a large proportion of women deliver yearly. Method: This was a 5-year (January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2000) review of the causes of maternal mortality at the Saint Philomena Catholic Hospital, Benin City. The case notes of those that suffered maternal mortality were retrieved and thoroughly perused. Information on all cases of maternal mortality were extracted from the patients\' case-notes; the labour ward Registers; the antenatal, postnatal, the female ward and the theatre registers. The midwifery/nurses\' reports were also examined. The duplicate copies of the death certificates were examined and the necessary information was also extracted. The total deliveries for the period were extracted from the delivery registers. Results: There were 7,055 women who gave birth during the 5-year period. There were 32 maternal deaths; Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 454/ 100,000 live births. Unbooked emergencies accounted for 68.7% of all deaths, and were more than doubled the booked women. The MMR increased progressively from 325 in 1996 to peak at 765 in 1999(P 0.06). It was lowest in 2000 (241) (

Review Of Interventions To Prevent Mother –To- Child Transmission And Seroprevalence Of Hiv Infection Among Paturients Advent To The Era Of Antiretroviral Therapy In Nigeria- Experienec From A Mission Hospital In Benin City, Nigeria

While the wide use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and non-breastfeeding of the infants of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected mothers revolutionized the prevention of vertical transmission (VT), denial, complacency and ineptitude marked the initial official reactions to the epidemic in Nigeria. Before 2002, there were no national guidelines and ART in Nigeria. The initial national HIV control responses were health sector–/ public health facility-based. Peripheral/non-governmental hospital responses are not well documented and the millennium year HIV seroprevalence in Nigeria is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the initial responses to prevent VT and the millennium year HIV seroprevalence in a non-governmental hospital; the Saint Philomena Catholic Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. This was a retrospective study. It involved in-depth interview of the hospital\'s relevant medical staff and a review of the delivery register, laboratory records and the case notes of all women that delivered in the facility for their HIV serostatus from January 1 through December 31, 2000. The result showed that 1,247 women had intrapartum counselling while 1,024 (82.1%) accepted and had documented HIV test results. The case notes of 1.2% women were not accessible while 16.7% of the women declined to test. The HIV seroprevalence was 5.8% with progressive quarterly increase. We conclude that the HIV prevalence was comparable to the national prevalence from sentinel surveys and the initial interventions were limited by lack of antiretroviral drugs. We suggest the extension of the free obstetric care, ART and breast milk substitutes being provided HIV infected mothers by the Federal Government of Nigeria to this mission and similar hospitals in the country to meet the national millennium development goals. Keywords: Review, Interventions, HIV prevalence, ART, Era, PMTCT, millennium-yearAnnals of Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 41-5

Clinicohistopathological Correlation in Diagnosis and Incidence of Occult Carcinoma in Hysterectomy Specimens in a University College Hospital in Nigeria

Hysterectomy terminates a woman's reproductive life. Its indication should be devoid of misdiagnosis. Our objective is to determine the correlation in clinical and histopathological diagnoses and incidence of occult carcinoma in hysterectomy specimens. This was a ten-year retrospective review of hysterectomies done January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2008 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. There were 3,965 gynecological surgeries. Hysterectomies were 498 (12.6%), 49.8 per year or 125.6 per 1000 gynecological surgeries. Uterine fibroids (71.6%) and cervical cancer (50.0%) were respectively the commonest benign and malignant conditions.Women with carcinoma were significantly older

Prévalence du double virus immuno-déficitaire humain/l’infection hépatite virale C (VIH/HVC) chez les femmes enceintes asymptomatiques

Concerted efforts have been made to combat HIV infection in Nigerian. By contrast, much less attention has been paid to hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. These viruses have similar immuno-epidemiology. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV/HIV dual infection among 269 antenatal attendees at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in southern Nigeria. The study was prospective and cross-sectional and consisted of the analysis of the sera of the participants for anti-HCV and HIV antibodies using ELISA. The result showed that 1.86% samples were HCV antibodies positive while 8.30% were seropositive for HIV-1 antibodies. There were no cases of dual infections. The HIV positive women and their babies had antiretroviral therapy. We conclude that dual HCV/HIV infection in pregnancy in Nigeria may be uncommon but suggest multicenter studies to determine the national prevalence while initiating strategies for their prevention (Afr J Reprod Health 2009; 13[2]:97-108).On a fait des efforts concertés pour combattre l’infection du VIH au Nigéria. Par contre, on consacré beaucoup moins d’attention à l’hépatite virale C (HVC). Ces virus ont la même immuno-épidémiologie. Cette étude avait comme objectif de déterminer la prévalence de la double infection du HVC/VIH chez 269 femmes qui se présentaient pour des services prénatals à l’University of Benin Teaching Hospital au sud du Nigéria. Il s’agissait d’une étude prospective et transversale et consistait en analyses des sérums des participants pour l’anti HVC et les anti-corps du VIH à l’aide d’ELISA. Le résultat a montré que 1,86% des échantillons des anticorps du HVC ont été positifs alors que 8,3% ont été séropositifs à l’égard des anticorps du VIH-1. Il n’y avait pas de cas de double infection. Les femmes séropositives et leurs bébés ont subi une thérapie antirétrovirale. Nous concluons que la double infection du HVC/VIH dans la grossesse au Nigéria peut ne pas être commun, mais nous suggérons des études multicentrales pour déterminer la prévalence nationale tout en initiant des stratégies pour leur prévention (Afr J Reprod Health 2009; 13[2]:97-108)

Salvaging Twin 2 After Abortion Of Twin 1: A Case Report

We present intentional delayed delivery of twin 2 after a spontaneous membrane rupture and abortion of twin1 in a dichorionic twin pregnancy at 14 weeks. As signs of infection were missing, we adopted a conservative (not expectant) management. The pregnancy was prolonged to 35 weeks\' gestation. In the absence of additional risk factors, the role of conservative management of multiple pregnancies after loss of one fetus in prolonging the pregnancy to fetal viability in resource-poor setting is highlighted. The gained gestational age of 20 weeks and 4 days (144 days in all), for the remaining fetus and the healthy mother and child pair after delivery at 35 weeks are discussed. The perinatal, economic and psychological implications are highlighted. The importance of good clinical assessment in the diagnosis of cervical incompetence and using ultrasound scan as a complimentary instrument is emphasized. Keywords: Abortion Twin 1, Salvage Twin 2, Cervical cerclage.Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (2) 2008: pp. 155-15

Mother-To-Child Transmission Of Hiv At The University Of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Introduction: A variety of drugs including single dose (SD) nevirapine, zidovudine and its combination, given to mother in pregnancy and baby postnatally have been used to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission rate. The experience at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is reported. Methods: A total of 317 Mothers/ babies pairs recruited at the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme of UBTH who had HAART, were recruited for the study. HIV status of the infants was determined by deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction (DNA PCR). Results: Of the 285 mothers/ infants pairs who adhered to our protocol, the transmission rate was 2.46 %. The babies who had mixed feeding had significantly higher rates than those who were exclusively breast-fed or had replacement feeding. P

Carcinoma Of The Uterine Cervix In Nigerian Women: The Need to Adopt a National Prevention Strategy.

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer affecting women, and was responsible for over 250,000 deaths in 2005, approximately 80% of which occurred in developing countries. Without urgent action, deaths due to cervical cancer are projected to rise by almost 25% over the next 10 years. Prevention of these deaths will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In Nigeria, carcinoma of the cervix is the commonest malignancy of the female genital tract, with an estimated incidence of 32 per 100,000 females. As a result of extremely poor knowledge and attitude towards cervical screening, and limitations posed by lack of facilities and human resources for its control, many women are presenting with, and dying from, complications of advanced stages of this preventable disease. Unfortunately, there are only five major functional radiotherapy facilities in Nigeria at present culminating in very long waiting queues for treatment. Consequently, many women never benefit from treatment before they die in despair. The subject of this review is to explore how this situation can be reversed. Objective: To determine the magnitude of, and social factors associated with, cervical cancer in Nigeria and the efforts being made to reduce the disease burden in Nigerian women. To proffer cost-effective strategies for intervention. Method: The review of previous strategies employed in targeted, hospital-based cervical screening programs in Nigeria and literature search in Medline, PubMed and Google. Results: There is poor public awareness of cervical cancer and strategies for its prevention. The utilization of hospital-based prevention programs (cervical screening) is extremely poor leading to a minute percentage of the population at-risk being reached. Many women present with advanced stages of the disease that require radiotherapy, which many can neither access nor afford. Conclusion: The number of Nigerian women with unmet need for cervical cancer screening is large. We recommend the augmentation of current prevention strategies with three pragmatic models viz the “Hub and Spoke Model”, the “Mobile Van Cervical Cytology Clinic (MV3C) Model” and the “Screen and Treat Model” to reach the larger rural population who are the predominant victims of this disease. Keywords: Cervical cancer, Prevention, ‘Hub and Spoke', Mobile Clinic, Screen and Treat, Model, NigeriaSahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp. 1-1