PREVALENCE OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV) ANTIBODY AMONG APPARENTLY HEALTHY PREGNANT-WOMEN IN NIGERIA

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in pregnancy in our community. METHOD: A prospective study on 250 pregnant women currently attending the antenatal clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was carried out in 1991. RESULT: Results obtained showed that of the 250 pregnant women screened only two (0. 8%) were seropositive for HIV. This indicates the risk of vertical or maternofetal HIV transmission in our community and underscores the need for urgency for prospective monitoring of infants born to HIV seropositive women. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence rate of HIV seropositivity amongst the otherwise healthy Nigerian pregnant women is only 0.8%, we advocate universal screening of HIV during pregnancy.