MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study sample comprised 240 patients. The patients include new born babies/infants and their parents. This study was conducted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria from June 2005 to June 2006.

About 5 mL of venous blood sample was collected from the patients after obtaining their consent. Aseptic means was applied during the sample collection. The serum was separated immediately after clot retraction and stored at -20°C. Sample collection lasted for about five months. All the blood samples were then screened for HIV antibodies using rapid capillus method (Des Jarlis, 1984). The HIV positive sera were confirmed using Abbott Determine system (NCCLS Guidelines, 1991).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

From the results obtained (Table 1), 22.5% of the babies tested HIV positive whilst their parents (i.e., fathers and mothers) were 100% HIV positive. This shows that there is low prevalence rate of HIV infection in new born babies compared to their HIV positive parents. This finding is supported by a prenatal HIV screening on the rate of maternal-fetal HIV transmission carried out by Patrick et al. (1998). In this study, it was observed that only one instance of maternal-fetal HIV transmission occurred among 13 live births from HIV- positive women. A routine offer of pregnancy screening for HIV in a low -prevalence setting reduces the rate of maternal-fetal HIV transmission and may rival other widely accepted health care expenditures in terms of cost effectiveness.

In a related study carried out by Ades et al. (1991), it was observed that prevalence of anti-HIV-1 in new born babies has remained stable in outer London and non-metropolitan districts, whereas prevalence in inner London has increased from 1 in 2000 in the 12 months beginning June, 1988, to 1 in 500 in the first three months of 1991. Either exponential or linear growth in the numbers of new seropositives could account for the results.

In another study by Johnstone et al. (1998), unlinked anonymous HIV testing of cards from neonates born during 1982-1989 to HIV positive mothers was performed. The resulting prevalence data were combined with existing data from 1990-1995. From their results, they established that there has been a substantial decline in the prevalence and incidence of HIV- neonatal infection since the mid- 1980’s. Although new infections are still occurring, the numbers are small.

Table 1:	Prevalence of HIV infection in new born babies and their parents

The decline may largely be explained by the impact of preventive measures on the spread of HIV amongst IDU and thus from IDU to their sexual partners.

From the above generalization, it can be seen that the results obtained from this study is in support of the previous findings as regards HIV neonatal infection.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that there is a low prevalence of HIV neonatal infection amongst babies born to HIV-positive parents in Maiduguri, Nigeria. This low prevalence may also be obtainable in other cities of the world. It is therefore recommended that further studies should be carried out to ascertain what protects the babies from being infected with HIV virus while still in the womb. This would help in finding a solution to the problem of HIV pandemic. These findings could equally lead to the production of HIV vaccine, because the factors that protect the unborn babies in the womb from HIV infection can also protect human beings from being infected with HIV virus.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We wish to thank Dr. S. Oguche formally with Department of Pediatric Medicine, University of Maiduguri and currently with University of Jos, Nigeria for his assistance throughout the course of this study. He assisted us in collecting blood samples from the patients.