Determination of frequency of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Pregnant Females

Background: HIV infection is a global epidemic worldwide. Its rate is increasing in females. Despite prenatal ART treatment morbidity and mortality rate is still high. In Pakistan HIV (AIDS) is now gaining recognition and has become a public health issue of great importance. Aim: To determine the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in pregnant females. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Gynecology&Obstetrics, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore for a period of 6 months from 2/7/2016 to 2/01/2017. Informed consent was taken. Demographic information was obtained aswell. Then blood sample (venous) was obtained by using 5cc disposable syringe. All samples were sent to the Pathology department. For the assessment of presence or absence of HIV by rapid HIV Kit method. Reports were assessed and discussed with pathologist. If the presence of virus was found to be positive (as per operational definition), then the patient was labelled as HIV infected. On a specially designed pro-forma, data was collected. Results: Mean age of women was 31.12 +/- 70.89 years. Mean gestational age of patients was 24.46 +/- 7.483 wks. There was only 1(0.5%) woman in whom result was positive for HIV. Statistically significant relationship between HIV positive status and age of the women was not found. Similarly no statistically significant relationship/association between HIV positivity and parity status of women was noted. Conclusion: Results of this study shows that HIV infection is rare in pregnant women. There was only one case reported in the whole sample.