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BACKGROUND: Nigeria has the largest global burden of HIV new infections in children despite global and national concerted efforts at the reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The goal of this study was to determine the associations between maternal characteristics, practices and mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection among mothers living with HIV. METHODS: This is a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study. Information was obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaire from the 240 participants. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 26, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of the 240 mothers recruited, 129 (53.8%) were within 25-35 years of age, with a mean age of 31.08 ± 5.65. A total of 35 (14.6%) of the participants had at least a child with HIV infection. Maternal ART status before childbirth (AOR = 0.02, 95%CI = 0.01-0.05, P = < 0 .001) was the singular determinant of having a child with HIV infection. Mothers who delivered outside the health facility were about four-fold at risk of having an infected child (AOR = 3.89, 95%CI = 1.82-8.50, P = 0.070). CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is high. Routine HIV testing services and the provision of accessible and affordable reproductive health services are recommended for all women of childbearing age.
RESUMEN
Background: The pattern and case fatality rate of Paediatric Lassa fever disease (LFD) is not well documented even in Lassa fever endemic communities. Aim and Objective: This prospective observational study was aimed at determining the pattern and outcome of Paediatric LFD. Methodology: A total of 183 children that met the criteria for LFD suspects were subjected to the Lassa virus PCR test. The suspects that tested positive were recruited into the study and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographics. Results: Of the 183 LFD suspects that were tested, 24 of them were positive to Lassa virus PCR, giving a positivity rate of 13.1%. The mean duration of illness before hospital presentation was 8.54 ± 3.83 days. All the subjects had a history of fever. Abdominal pain and vomiting were the two highest presenting complaints after fever. Seven out of 24 children died during the study period, giving a case fatality rate (CFR) of 29.2%. Subjects who presented with convulsions and unconsciousness (OR =10.00, 95% CI= 1.2, 81.81, p=0.020), bleeding (OR =40.00, 95% CI= 12.96, 539.67, p=0.020), poor urine output (OR =40.00, 95% CI= 12.96, 539.67, p=0.020) were more likely to die of LFD compared to their colleagues without such symptoms. Conclusion: The positivity rate and case fatality rate of LFD in children were high. Public enlightenment on the common features of Lassa fever disease and the need to seek health care early for children with febrile illness is advocated.