Effectiveness of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in Bowen University Teaching Hospital, 0yo State, Nigeria

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the most significant route of HIV infection in children. Over 90% of HIV infections in children are acquired through the mother-to-child transmission route. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV interventions. It employed a retrospective approach. Records of HIV positive pregnant women who registered and received ANC between January 1st 2015 to December 31st 2018 and HIV exposed infants followed-up for 6 weeks until HIV status was determined by DNA polymerase chain reaction techniques were collected and analysed. 87 pregnant women were HIV positive during the 4 years period, among these group, only 80 had their babies followed up till 6 weeks to determine HIV status by DNA polymerase chain reaction. There were three set of twins making a total of 83 exposed infants. The overall MTCT rate was 4.8%, maternal and infant ART was found to have significant influence on mother to child transmission of HIV with χ2=41.41, P<0.001 and χ2=34.554, P<0.001 respectively. Mode of delivery and infant feeding practice were statistically not significantly related to mother to child transmission of HIV with χ2=3.92, P=0.41 and χ2=1.859, P=0.173 respectively. Though this facility achieved the goal of reducing the rate of HIV mother to child transmission down to less than 5%, there is still need to strengthen service provision  and follow up to conform to global plan for the elimination of new HIV infections among children.