Sero-prevalence and factors associated with Hepatitis B and C co-infection in pregnant Nigerian women living with HIV infection.

Introduction: Perinatal and horizontal transmission of Hepatitis B occur in areas of high endemicity as most infections are acquired in the first 5 years of life. Unless Hepatitis B and C infected pregnant women identified, and appropriate treatment provided, children born to these women are at high risk of chronic Hepatitis B (and C) virus infection. The objecive of this study was to determined the prevalence and the factors associated with Hepatitis B and C Virus infection in pregnant HIV positive Nigerians.

Sputum smear concentration may misidentify acid-fast bacilli as Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in most resource-limited settings still depends on smear microscopy for identification of acid-fast bacilli (AFB). However, recently developed molecular diagnostics that test for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) DNA have been shown to be superior for confirmation of TB diagnosis.

Methods: At regular clinical visits over a 12-month period, we collected sputa from HIV-infected patients presenting with signs or symptoms of TB at 2 Nigerian clinics.

Incidence of and socio-biologic risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth in HIV positive Nigerian women.

Background: Recent studies have identified HIV as a leading contributor to preterm delivery and its associated morbidity and mortality. However little or no information exists in our sub-region on this subject. Identifying the factors associated with preterm delivery in HIV positive women in our country and sub-region will not only prevent mother to child transmission of HIV virus but will also reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with prematurity and low birth weight.

Genetic determinants of drug-resistant tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients in Nigeria.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a growing problem in resource-limited settings. Adequate infrastructure for testing drug sensitivity and sufficient evidence of first-line resistance are currently unavailable in Nigeria. We collected sputum samples from HIV-infected patients enrolled in the Harvard PEPFAR/APIN Plus program over 12 months at two PEPFAR antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics in the southwest and north central regions in Nigeria.

Effect of HIV-1 infection and increasing immunosuppression on menstrual function.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, pattern and determinants of menstrual abnormalities in HIV-positive Nigerian women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 3473 (2549 HIV-seropositive and 924 seronegative) consecutive and consenting women seen at the HIV treatment centers at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos and the Federal Medical Centre, Markurdi.

Results: The sociodemographic characteristics of the two groups were comparable, except for body mass index (BMI): the HIV-negative women (28.

Intimate partner violence and correlates in pregnant HIV positive Nigerians.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, types and correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) in pregnant Nigerian living with HIV.

Design: Cross sectional study.

Population: HIV positive pregnant women.

Management of HIV-1 infection with a combination of nevirapine, stavudine, and lamivudine: a preliminary report on the Nigerian antiretroviral program.

Objective: To evaluate treatment outcome in the first 12 months among HIV-positive patients managed with a combination of nevirapine + stavudine + lamivudine under the current national antiretroviral (ARV) program in Nigeria.

Design: This was a prospective observational, cohort study on 50 ARV-naive patients who met the inclusion criteria for the program and had given informed consent. All patients were in stage 2 or stage 3 periods of infection based on World Health Organization clinical classification.