Sociodemographic characteristics of HIV-positive mother-child pairs in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

This study was designed to identify sociodemographic characteristics of HIV-positive mother-child pairs in the southwest of Nigeria. The aim was to identify factors that will be helpful in designing initiatives for preventing mother to child transmission (MTCT) of the virus. It was a hospital-based, case-control study carried out at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria from August 2000 to July 2002. Eligible mother-child pairs identified at the paediatric department, who consented to participate in the study, were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and screened for HIV seropositivity. Ninety-three (46.7%) of 199 mother-child pairs were HIV-positive. When compared with the 106 HIV-negative mothers, the HIV-positive mothers were younger, unemployed, had earlier sexual exposure, lower education and were married to polygynous spouses. It is recommended that initiatives designed to reduce MTCT of the HIV virus in the southwest of Nigeria should include education and improvement of the economic status of female adolescents; promotion of cultural practices such as virginity until marriage while discouraging polygyny and early marriage. Health education on prevention of HIV infection should target potential mothers and their partners.