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%).