HIV SERO-DISCORDANCE: PREVALENCE AND PATTERN AT LAUTECH TEACHING HOSPITAL, OSOGBO, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Background Early identification of HIV status as well as necessary interventions, Partners of PLWHA might soon become HIV sero-positives. This will thereby worsen the disease burden. Objectives To determine the prevalence and pattern of HIV sero-discordance at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria. Methods Spouses of HIV reactive patients at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (PMTCT & HIV Day care clinic) were counselled and made to undergo voluntary testing for HIV, using Unigold® (Trinity Biotech Plc. Bray, Ireland) and determine® strips (Alere Medical Company Limited, Japan) to screening for HIV antibodies, with stat® pack (Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc. USA) as a tie-breaker. Data was analysed with the use of SPSS. Results Of the 356 participants, a total of 166 (46.7%) were males. Fifty-four (28.4%) of these females were pregnant. Among the participants, 216 (60.7%) were non-reactive and 140 (39.3%) were HIV reactive with the test strips. Of the non-reactive (HIV sero-discordant) population, proportionately, more were males 110 (50.9%). Amid the reactive population, 84 (60.0%) were females (p = 0.028). The gender of respondents (p = 0.028), Level of education (p = 0.035), unprotected sexual contact (p = 0.041), multiple sexual partners (p = 0.032), STI (p = 0.001), abnormal vaginal discharge (p = 0.001), genital ulcer (p value = 0.001) and blood transfusion (p = 0.001) have positive association with prevalence of HIV infection in sex partners of PLWHA. Conclusion The prevalence of HIV sero-discordance among PLWHA was 60.7% with more of female than male HIV serodiscordance.