FREQUENCY OF HIV INFECTION IN PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING THE ANTENATAL ROOM OF GYNAECOLOGY WARD B AT MEDICAL TEACHING INSTITUTION–HAYATABAD MEDICAL COMPLEX, PESHAWAR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70520/kjms.v19i1.685Keywords:
HIV infection, pregnancy, antenatal care, prevalence, vertical transmissionAbstract
Objective: To determine the frequency of HIV infection in pregnant women attending the antenatal room of Gynae B Ward at MTI-Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 02 July, 2024 to 02 Jan, 2025 at Gynae B Ward, MTI-Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. A total of 161 pregnant women aged 18–45 years were included using consecutive non-probability sampling. Data was collected through comprehensive clinical history and laboratory testing for HIV infection using real-time RT-PCR. Relevant demographic and clinical variables, including age, residence, parity, husband’s occupation, educational status, social class, family history, and gestational age, were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, with stratification and post-stratification chi-square tests applied to identify effect modifiers.
Results: The mean age of participants was 31.04 ± 7.956 years, with a mean gestational age of 33.88 ± 3.768 weeks and a mean BMI of 21.196 ± 1.7358 kg/m². HIV infection was observed in 1.9% of the study population. Stratification revealed that HIV infection was more frequent among participants aged >30 years (2.4%), urban residents (3.7%), primiparous women (3.7%), and those with a family history of HIV infection (5.9%). Among social classes, the rich had a higher frequency (5.0%).
Conclusions: The frequency of HIV infection in pregnant women at MTI-Hayatabad Medical Complex was low (1.9%), with notable associations with age, urban residence, parity, social class, and family history. These findings underscore the importance of targeted screening and preventive measures in high-risk groups to mitigate vertical HIV transmission.
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