Pregnancy Outcomes in HIV Infected and Uninfected Women Attending ANC/PMTCT in Mekelle Town, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2011-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background : Birth weight is a powerful predictor of infant survival, growth, long-term health
and psychosocial development. Low birth weight has been defined by the World Health
Organization (WHO) as weight at birth of less than 2,500 grams. Low birth weight (LBW) is a
risk factor for infant mortality, morbidity, growth retardation, poor cognitive development and
chronic diseases later in life.HIV infection during pregnancy may have a negative effect on birth
weight, preterm birth and still birth.
OBJECTIVE : the main objective of this study is to determine the effect of HIV infection on
birth outcome.
METHODOLOGY: Health facility based comparative cross sectional study was conducted to
detrmine the effect of HIV infection on birth outcomes. A pretested data collection form was
used to extract data from records of systematically selected pregnant women and their birth
outcomes. Data was entered and validated using Epi -Info 3.5.1 for windows. Statistical analysis
was performed using SPSS version 16 for windows. Bivariate analysis using student’s t-test was
performed to compare means of continuous variables . Differences in proportions was analyzed
using the chi-square test . Ethical clearance was obtained from the ethical review committe of the
school of public health(SPH) and institutional review board(IRB) of College of Health Science of
Addis Ababa University.
RESULT: A total number of 711 pregnant women, 237 (33.3%) HIV infected and 474 (66.7%)
HIV uninfected and their newborn characteristics was extracted from ANC and delivery registers
and analyzed. The overall LBW rate was 11.7%% while mean birth weight was 2953+20.98(SE).
Mean birth weight tend to be lower in infants born to HIV infected women compared to HIV
uninfected women (2724.78 + 41 grams VS 3064.55 + 22 grams , independent t test , P<0.001).
HIV infected women were more likely to have preterm births (OR = 1.534, 95% CI; 1.046,
2.249). Although not statistically significant , HIV infected women had higher proportion of still
births (3.4%) compared to HIV uninfected women (1.9%) (X2 =1.47, P = 0.23).
CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATION: HIV infected pregnant women are at increased
risk for preterm birth and lowbirth weight. Therefore, we suggest promoting of HIV infection
among reproductive age group
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Keywords
Birth weight, Low birth weight