Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Seropositivity In Term and Preterm Infants at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
Abstract
To determine the prevalence of HIV seropositivity in term and
preterm infants at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in 1988, l30
term and 130 preterm infants were screened consecutively for
human immunodeficiency virus by Wellcozyme ELISA test. A repeat
test was done on positive samples. All preterm and term infants
admitted to the Newborn Unit, aged between 1 and 28 days, were
included in the study. Some term infants were recruited from
the labour ward and the study was blind and unlinked. Physical
examination and Dubowitz assessment were performed on all babies.
A standard questionnaire was administered to each mother to obtain
information about pregnancy, health, marital and employment
status.
Ten point eight percent (10.8%) term and eleven point five percent
(11.5%) preterm infants were HIV positive. There was no significant
relation between birth weight, gestational age or growth retardation
and seropositivity.
There was no significant association between HIV seropositivity
and maternal age, marital status, education level or employment
status. Seropositivity was not found to be associated with a maternal
history of injections or previous transfusions in this study. However,
50% of infants of mothers with pre-eclamptic toxaemia were HIV
Positive, with a p value of < 0.002.
As seropositivity In the newborn reflects the HIV status In the
mother, these results indicate that seropositivity in pregnant women
is high at KNH (11.2,4%).
Citation
Degree of Master of MedicinePublisher
University of Nairobi Department of Medicine
Description
A dissertation presented in part fulfilment
for the Degree of Master of Medicine of
the University of Nairobi