Association between Human Immunodeficiency Virus and premature rupture of membranes

Background: Pregnant women who have PROM and their unborn children are at risk of infections. Furthermore, unborn children are at risk of cord prolapse and compression, preterm delivery, fetal deformities, fetal demise, pulmonary hypoplasia and low birth weights. The findings of association between Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and PROM have been inconsistent. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between HIV infection and PROM in our setting. Methods: A retrospective case control study was conducted at Ndola Teaching Hospital, Zambia. Cases were women who were admitted with PROM and controls were pregnant women who were admitted for other illnesses other than PROM. Sample sizes of 148 cases and 148 controls were determined using the following information: HIV prevalence of 27% among cases, 14% among controls, 95% confidence level and a power of 80%. The Chi-square test was used to compare proportions. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: The study enrolled 167 cases and 170 controls. The rate of women with PROM was lower in women of Gravidity 1 (40.7%) than in women of gravidity 2+ (54.0%). The proportion of women with PROM was highest in women of gestational age 32-35 weeks (66.7%). HIV infection was not significantly associated with PROM (p=0.729). HIV was not significantly associated with PROM (p=0.729). Conclusions: The lack of association between HIV and PROM may partly be due to none staging of the HIV disease