Haematological characteristics and HIV status of pregnant women in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 1995-96

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 93; no. 4; pp. 419 - 422
• Main Authors: RAMON, R, SAWADOGO, D, MSELLATI, P, KOKO, F. S, NOBA, V, LIKIKOUËT, R, GOURVELLEC, G, VIHO, I, MANDELBROT, L, DABIS, F, EKRA, C. W
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier 01.07.1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anemia - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cote d'Ivoire - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections - blood; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Seropositivity - blood; HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology; HIV Seroprevalence; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic - blood; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic - epidemiology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - blood; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Tropical medicine; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Africa; Ivory Coast; Cote d'Ivoire; Human; Immunopathology; Statistical analysis; Anemia; Retroviridae; AIDS; Hemopathy; Asymptomatic; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Virus; Pregnancy; Association; Viral disease; Female; Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 0035-9203; 1878-3503
• DOI: 10.1016/S0035-9203(99)90143-8

To describe the haematological profile of pregnant women and to compare these characteristics according to HIV serostatus in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a cross-sectional study was made in the context of a research intervention programme to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV (ANRS 049 trial). HIV testing was systematically proposed to pregnant women attending the mother and child health clinic of a community health centre. Blood samples were tested for HIV antibodies using Genelavia and Peptilav. The haematological parameters were measured with a Coulter counter. From May 1995 to March 1996, 1646 pregnant women accepted HIV testing and had a full blood count available. The prevalence of HIV infection was 12.0% (n = 197). The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin [Hb] < 11 g/dL) was 70.1%, n = 1155 (95% confidence interval 68-72%) and significantly higher in HIV+ (81.7%, n = 161) than in HIV- women (68.9%, n = 994) (P < 0.001). Severe anaemia (Hb < 7 g/dL) was present in 1.9% of the women (n = 31), 4.6% (n = 9) in HIV+ and 1.5% (n = 22) in HIV- women (P < 0.001). HIV infection, primigravidae and secundigravidae were factors independently associated with anaemia. Anaemia was highly prevalent in this population while severe anaemia was rare. HIV infection was a contributor to anaemia in pregnancy. As zidovudine, with its known haematological toxicity, has recently been introduced to prevent MTCT of HIV in developing countries, screening HIV+ women for severe anaemia is necessary.