BACKGROUND: Many patients are referred to labour ward as emergencies, and therefore do not benefit from the antenatal HIV counselling and testing and treatment offered to registered patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the acceptability and suitability of offering HIV counselling and testing to women of unknown HIV status presenting in labour. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comprising counselling and obtaining consent for HIV testing among 104 unregistered patients who presented in labour over a 3-month period. Rapid and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay screening was performed for 90 consenting respondents. Reactive results were confirmed by Western blot. Appropriate therapy was instituted. RESULTS: Acceptance rate for HIV testing was 86.5%, prevalence of HIV was 6.7%. Women of lower educational status were more likely to accept testing in labour (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1-0.7; p=0.01); age, parity, occupation and knowledge of HIV had no influence. Most women (66.3%) had satisfactory knowledge of HIV. No one admitted to feeling coerced to test in fear of being denied care. Most refusals for screening were to avoid needle pricks (28.6%). Compared to ELISA screening test, specificity of the rapid test was 100%, sensitivity 85.7%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 98.8%. Attitude to testing was maintained on post-partum re-evaluation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HIV amongst unregistered parturients showed the importance of offering point-of-care HIV testing and intervention, especially in an environment where antenatal clinic attendance is poor. Rapid testing appeared to be acceptable and feasible in labour to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
BACKGROUND: Many patients are referred to labour ward as emergencies, and therefore do not benefit from the antenatal HIV counselling and testing and treatment offered to registered patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the acceptability and suitability of offering HIV counselling and testing to women of unknown HIV status presenting in labour. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comprising counselling and obtaining consent for HIV testing among 104 unregistered patients who presented in labour over a 3-month period. Rapid and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay screening was performed for 90 consenting respondents. Reactive results were confirmed by Western blot. Appropriate therapy was instituted. RESULTS: Acceptance rate for HIV testing was 86.5%, prevalence of HIV was 6.7%. Women of lower educational status were more likely to accept testing in labour (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1-0.7; p=0.01); age, parity, occupation and knowledge of HIV had no influence. Most women (66.3%) had satisfactory knowledge of HIV. No one admitted to feeling coerced to test in fear of being denied care. Most refusals for screening were to avoid needle pricks (28.6%). Compared to ELISA screening test, specificity of the rapid test was 100%, sensitivity 85.7%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 98.8%. Attitude to testing was maintained on post-partum re-evaluation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HIV amongst unregistered parturients showed the importance of offering point-of-care HIV testing and intervention, especially in an environment where antenatal clinic attendance is poor. Rapid testing appeared to be acceptable and feasible in labour to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Authors: S Aidoo; W K Ampofo; J A Brandful; S V Nuvor; J K Ansah; N Nii-Trebi; J S Barnor; F Apeagyei; T Sata; D Ofori-Adjei; K Ishikawa Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2001-07 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Marc Bulterys; Denise J Jamieson; Mary Jo O'Sullivan; Mardge H Cohen; Robert Maupin; Steven Nesheim; Mayris P Webber; Russell Van Dyke; Jeffrey Wiener; Bernard M Branson Journal: JAMA Date: 2004-07-14 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Echezona E Ezeanolue; Michael C Obiefune; Chinenye O Ezeanolue; John E Ehiri; Alice Osuji; Amaka G Ogidi; Aaron T Hunt; Dina Patel; Wei Yang; Jennifer Pharr; Gbenga Ogedegbe Journal: Lancet Glob Health Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 26.763
Authors: Echezona E Ezeanolue; Michael C Obiefune; Wei Yang; Stephen K Obaro; Chinenye O Ezeanolue; Gbenga G Ogedegbe Journal: Implement Sci Date: 2013-06-08 Impact factor: 7.327
Authors: Juliet Iwelunmor; Echezona E Ezeanolue; Collins O Airhihenbuwa; Michael C Obiefune; Chinenye O Ezeanolue; Gbenga G Ogedegbe Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-07-30 Impact factor: 3.295