Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Syphilis Infections among Pregnant Women Booked for Antenatal Care at Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Nigeria

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among pregnant women are an important health issue in Nigeria, but its prevalence inLokoja is not known. Objective: The objective of this study is to establish the seroprevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and syphilis infections among pregnant women booked for the antenatal clinic in Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Nigeria, and determine risk factors associated with the infections. Methods: We prospectively screened three hundred pregnant women booked for antenatal care between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016, for HIV, HBV, and syphilis. Their demographic data, risk factors, and results of the screening tests were analyzed using the SPSS version 20 and presented in simple charts, tables, and percentages. Results: Thirty nine (13%) out of the 300 pregnant women tested seropositive for either HIV (28, 9.3%), HBV (10, 3.3%), or syphilis (one, 0.3%). The most common identifiable risk factor for these infections was multiple sexual partners which accounted for 38.4%. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of STIs in this study was 13% and the most common risk factor for the infections was multiple sexualpartners. Therefore, effective preventive strategies for HIV, HBV, and syphilis are advocated. Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Nigeria, pregnancy, screening, seroprevalence, syphili

Safety and efficacy of misoprostol in induction of labour in prelabour rupture of fetal membrane in Nigerian women: a multicenter study

Background: Misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analogue compared to prostaglandin E2, has the advantage of being inexpensive and stable at room temperature, with its proven efficacy and safety. However studies on the effect of pH on the efficacy of misoprostol have yielded conflicting results. Thus its use in the induction of labour in patients with premature rupture of membrane requires further investigation. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of misoprostol in induction of labour in Nigerian women with prelabour rupture of membrane after 34 weeks of gestation. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and forty six Nigerian women with prelabour rupture of membrane who consented to participate in the trial were randomised into two arms of misoprostol and oxytocin. Labour was managed with WHO partograph. The primary outcome was the caesarean section rate and induction vaginal delivery interval. Results: The mean induction to vaginal delivery interval was significantly shorter in the misoprostol arm (504 mins) compared to 627 mins in the oxytocin arm (t=3.97; p=0.005). The caesarean section rate of 18.1% among the misoprostol arm was also significantly lower than the 41.4% recorded in the oxytocin arm (p=0.002). Among patients with Bishop score greater than 6 there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the outcomes measured. Conclusion: Misoprostol is not only effective but also safe when compared with titrated oxytocin in Nigerian parturients with prelabour rupture of membrane after 34 weeks