| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 1 | Page : 2-7 |
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Partner human immunodeficiency virus sero-discordance in Nnewi, Nigeria
Chukwuemeka O Ezeama1, George U Eleje1, Theresa Okonkwo2, Joseph I Ikechebelu1
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PMTCT Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
2 Department of HIV Care, PMTCT Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Joseph I Ikechebelu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2321-9157 .135741
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Context: Disclosing one's human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status helps in reducing the spread of the disease. Intimate partners are encouraged to reveal their status to each other. Such strategies aid in determining discordance and also target proven interventions to the correct demographic. Objective: The objective was to determine the rates of discordance among HIV positive pregnant women and their partners attending Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. Materials and Methods: Partners of HIV positive pregnant women who had been notified of their spouses status were invited, counseled, and those who accepted, were tested for HIV using the national testing algorithm. Pre- and post-test counseling was offered to all tested partners. Results: A total of 10,070 new patients booked for antenatal care during the study period. Eight thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine (89.2%) of them were counseled, with 8317 (92.6%) of them accepted to do the HIV test. Seven hundred and ninety-seven women tested positive giving a sero-prevalence of 9.6%. Although 84.4% (673) of the positive mothers stated their intent to notify their partners, only 21% (141) of the partners presented for counseling and testing. On the whole, 98.6% (139) of the partners who presented accepted the test with 45.3% (63) of them testing positive, giving a sero-discordance rate of 54.7%. Conclusion: The discordance rate among tested partners is high in our center and suboptimal counseling, and testing rates were observed in the male partners. Interventions aimed at increasing partner involvement should be devised and adapted for our region. This will yield more data, give a truer picture of discordance rates as well as the aid in better management of scarce resources in program implementation. |
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