HIV Seroprevalence in Women of Childbearing Age in Benin City, Nigeria

HIV seroprevalence was still low in some parts of Nigeria from 1989 to 1991, and only limited reports were available on seroprevalence in childbearing women. In order to assess HIV seroprevalence in pregnant women in Benin City and Bendel State, two sampling methods, unlinked anonymous testing and voluntary testing, were employed. Data obtained from testing 358 sera from pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and cord blood from labour wards in Benin City were compared with data obtained from testing 833 pregnant women at four sentinel surveillance sites in Bendel State. The samples were all analysed by ELISA technique at the University Teaching Hospital, Benin City. Repeatedly reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot. The seroprevalence of HIV-1 in Benin City and in Bendel State was 0.28 percent and 0.36 percent, respectively. At this point in time, intensive health education campaigns targeted at the general population are necessary.