ANTENATAL CARE AND BIRTH OUTCOMES RELATED TO HIV STATUS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AT PUMWANI MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN KENYA

Abstract

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is listed among the indirect causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. The common causes of direct obstetric mortality among pregnant women in Kenya include hypertension and hemorrhage whereas HIV and post abortion complications are causes of indirect obstetric mortality. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) use among seropositive pregnant women has been shown to improve pregnancy outcomes. There is no study that has been done locally to compare the pregnancy outcomes among seropositive and seronegative women at the largest maternity hospital in Kenya. The aim of the study was to compare maternal outcomes among seropositive and seronegative women at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Nairobi county Kenya.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 240 pregnant women were recruited using purposive sampling method. The data collection tool used was a questionnaire. Data was stored in a password protected computer under safe custody of the principal investigator. Analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Categorical variables were summarized using frequency tables and continuous variables were summarized using measures of central tendency and dispersions e.g. mean median and standard deviation. Bivariate analysis was used to compare characteristics and outcomes between seropositive and seronegative women.

Results: The study indicated that most mothers in both seropositive (n = 110, 91.7%) and seronegative (n = 99, 82.5%) group attended ANC clinics in various government health facilities [OR=0.43; 95%CI 0.19-0.95; p= 0.038]. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) was the prominent cause of complication during delivery affecting 17 (14.2%) and 12 (10%) seropositive and seronegative women, respectively.

Conclusion: HAART use in pregnancy lowers the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However seropositive mothers are still predisposed to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH)