PREVALENCE OF HIV INFECTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE IN ALUU, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the cause of the fatal conditions called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Human Immunodeficiency Virus belongs to the family of retroviruses and sub viruses lentiviruses. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women attending primary Health Centre in Auu, Port Harcourt. From the study population, a total sample size of 94 pregnant women were randomly selected and enrolled into the study. The age ranges from 0-49 years. The age groups 20 – 29 years constituted the largest populations making up 49.75%, followed by age groups 30-39 years (34.04%) while age groups 0-9 years were the least (2.13%). Among the age groups, 40-49 years are the ones with a high percentage of HIV positive cases. In relation to marital status, 2(8.70%) was observed to be seropositive for patients that were single, 5(7.25%) were seropositive for married while those that were widowed showed no prevalence of HIV. The rate of seropositivity of HIV. In relation to educational level, 10(10.00%) was the highest prevalence of HIV and was observed to be seropositive for patients with primary school, 5(9.43%). In relation to occupational status, business owners had the highest sero-prevalence of 3(13.6of 2(13.33%) were 4%), students had a sero-prevalence of 2(13.33%), unemployed had a sero-positivity of 1(12.50%). The study found a prevalence of 7.43% HIV seropositivity among a group of women attending antenatal clinic at the Primary Health center Aluu. Expectant mothers should be encouraged to know their HIV statuses and to always met up with antenatal appointments.