HIV Prevalence amongst Clients Attending Antenatal Clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi

Evidence from the 2005 National HIV Seroprevalence Sentinel Survey showed that Benue state has the highest seroprevalence rate of HIV infection in the country. Seroprevalence rate amongst antenatal women is a reflection of what is happening in the larger society. Knowledge of seroprevalence rate amongst pregnant women would help in targeting intervention strategies for prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.The objective of the study is to determine the seroprevalence rate of HIV infection amongst clients attending antenatal clinic at the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi.Cross-sectional study of 262 randomly selected women that booked for antenatal care at the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi between 1 January2007 to 30 April, 2007 was carried out. Information regarding age, parity, gestational age at booking, educational status and HIV sero-status of the clients were looked into.A total of 50 women out of the 262 women studied were positive, giving a seroprevalence rate of 19.1%. The highest seroprevalence rate was amongst 25-29 years age group (40.8%). Women of parity 1-4 constituted the highest group (53.4%). Majority of them (45.5%) had secondary school education while 60 (22.9%) had tertiary education. One hundred and ten (42%) booked in the 3 trimester while only 34 (13%)booked in the 1 trimester. HIV seroprevalence is high amongstantenatal women in Makurdi and intervention strategies should be scaled up for prevention of vertical transmission of the virus.Keywords: HIV prevalence,Antenatal Clinic, Makurdi