International STD Research & Reviews

Seroprevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis among Pregnant Women in Rivers State, Nigeria

Emmanuel Wobo — 2026-03-30

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B Virus and Syphilis in pregnancy increases the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality, and also pose a risk to the fetus due to mother to child transmission.

Aim: This work was aimed at determining the sero-prevalence of HIV, HBV and Syphilis amongst pregnant women in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Method: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Rivers State from 1^st January 2015 – 31^st December 2023. A total of 16,605 pregnant women were seen during the study period. A pretested data extraction form was used to obtain information on the socio demographic status, screening for HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and syphilis from the antenatal record registrar. The data were computed into Microsoft Excel 2016 spreadsheet and analyzed with the IBM SPSS Version 26. The results were presented in tables.

Results: A total of 16605 pregnant women were seen at the antenatal clinic of RSUTH, Port Harcourt, between 2015 and 2023. The mean age was 31.61 years, with age range of 15-58 years. The age group of 26 to 35 years comprised 67.2% of the participants while participants aged more than 45 years comprised 0.4%. Out of 16605 antenatal women, 804 were HIV positive giving a seroprevalence rate of 4.8%, HBV infection had a prevalence of 1.2%, while the prevalence of syphilis was 0.1%.

Conclusion: The observed prevalence of HIV, HBV and syphilis in this study was 4.8%,1.2% and 0.1% respectively. The findings of this study could have important public health implications as there is a continued decline in the seroprevalence when compared to similar studies in our locality thus revealing an increase in the uptake of the opt-out screening programmes in pregnancy. Thus, routine screening and treatment during pregnancy should be encouraged to further reduce the risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

The Effect of Mental Health Disorders on Reproductive and Sexual Health

Catherine N. Stanley — 2026-04-25

Background: Certain mental health conditions are known to make people incapable of making rational decisions thus exposing them to risky sexual behaviours that may result in sexually transmitted infections.

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of psychotic and non-psychotic mental health disorders on reproductive and sexual health of patients accessing care at the Neuropsychiatry department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) as reflected in the sexually transmitted infections seen among this population.

Methods: Ethics approval for this study was applied for and obtained from the UPTH Research Ethics Committee. A 5ml aliquot of veinous blood was aseptically collected from all participants who had given their voluntary informed consent to be enrolled into the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and labelled along with the samples in a manner that ensured strict confidentiality. The samples were analysed for hepatitis B (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromogenic methods according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Results: The observed prevalence for the STIs in this study were 3.5%, 36.23% and 2.03% for HBV, HIV, and syphilis respectively. The high prevalence of HIV was of particular concern particularly because some participants without mental health conditions also tested positive for HIV, and the HBV was also significant.

Conclusion: In view of the prevalence and variety of STIs observed in this study, mandatory screening for patients with mental health disorders accessing care and health workers at the hospital is recommended. The hospital management should also institute policies and measures that will enhance infection prevention and control in the hospital.

Prevalence, Knowledge and Preventive Practices of Vaginal Candidiasis among Final-Year Female Public Health Students in Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria

Uka-Kalu, Ezinne Chioma — 2026-05-08

Background: Vaginal candidiasis is a common fungal infection affecting women of reproductive age, with a significant burden among university students. Laboratory-based diagnostic methods, including microscopy and culture, remain essential for accurate identification and differentiation from other vaginal infections. Despite the high prevalence, knowledge and awareness of vaginal candidiasis among young women, including university students, remain suboptimal.

Aim: This study assessed the prevalence, knowledge, and preventive practices of vaginal candidiasis among final year female Public Health undergraduate students at Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 final year female Public Health students selected through systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographics, knowledge, and preventive practices. High vaginal swab specimens were collected and analysed using microscopy and culture to determine prevalence. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26, with chi-square tests used to determine associations at p < 0.05 significance level.

Results: The prevalence of vaginal candidiasis was 23.6%, while the overall vaginal infections prevalence was 67.9%. Aerobic vaginitis (57.0%) was the most common infection, with 61.5% of candidiasis cases co-infected with aerobic vaginitis. Good knowledge was demonstrated by 68.5% of respondents, though only 39.4% correctly understood that candidiasis is not primarily an STI. Good preventive practices were reported by 64.2%, yet 49.7% had avoided seeking care due to embarrassment. Cost (35.8%) and stigma (35.8%) were the major perceived barriers. Age, residence, and information source significantly influenced knowledge (p < 0.05). Practice level was significantly associated with infection prevalence (p = 0.016), while knowledge showed no association. Antibiotic resistance to commonly used oral antibiotics was high.

Conclusion: Vaginal candidiasis and other reproductive tract infections are highly prevalent among final year female Public Health students, with significant knowledge-practice gaps and persistent stigma. The high rate of mixed infections with aerobic vaginitis has important implications for treatment. Multi-level interventions addressing individual, institutional, and socio-cultural determinants are urgently needed.

Paradoxical Lipid Patterns and Elevated Atherogenic Risk in HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy from the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Tarila Ngowari Aleruchi-Didia — 2026-05-18

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are associated with metabolic disturbances, including dyslipidaemia and increased cardiovascular risk.

Aim: This study evaluated lipid profile alterations and atherogenic cardiovascular risk among HIV-positive patients receiving ART.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 participants (90 HIV-positive on ART and 60 HIV-negative controls) at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Fasting lipid parameters were measured, and atherogenic indices, Castelli’s Risk Index I (CRI-I), Castelli’s Risk Index II (CRI-II), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), and Atherogenic Coefficient (AC)—were calculated.

Results: HIV-positive participants had significantly higher total cholesterol (6.42 ± 0.68 vs 4.98 ± 0.55 mmol/L), triglycerides (2.36 ± 0.41 vs 1.52 ± 0.29 mmol/L), LDL-C (3.92 ± 0.64 vs 3.05 ± 0.58 mmol/L), and non-HDL cholesterol (5.47 ± 0.72 vs 3.64 ± 0.60 mmol/L), alongside significantly lower HDL-C levels (0.95 ± 0.21 vs 1.34 ± 0.25 mmol/L) (p < 0.001). Atherogenic indices were markedly elevated in HIV-positive individuals: CRI-I (7.02 ± 1.84 vs 3.82 ± 0.91), CRI-II (4.36 ± 1.21 vs 2.21 ± 0.74), AIP (0.42 ± 0.12 vs 0.08 ± 0.10), and AC (6.02 ± 1.75 vs 2.82 ± 0.88) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: HIV-positive patients on ART exhibit a classical atherogenic lipid profile characterized by elevated LDL-C and reduced HDL-C, alongside significantly increased atherogenic indices. These findings highlight the combined impact of HIV infection and ART on cardiovascular risk and support the integration of atherogenic indices into routine HIV care.

Mapping Global HIV Inequality among Males Aged 15-24: A Hierarchical Beta Mixed -Effects Analysis (1990-2024)

Francis Ayiah-Mensah — 2026-05-18

Background: HIV infection amongst males aged 15-24 is an important health issue that is of global concern and has significant differences across regions. Some of the existing literature is typically based on linear or pooled models that do not adequately account for bounded and heterogeneous information. This research aims to approximate country-specific and global time-varying patterns without incurring the cost of excessively modelling the limited fractional nature of the result and breaking down the heterogeneity between countries. This study quantifies global and regional trends in HIV prevalence among males aged 15-24 and estimates country-level heterogeneity using a multilevel beta regression framework. Also, the observational nature of World Development Indicators (WDI) data and the absence of individual-level behavioural covariates limit causal interpretation.

Methods: The World Bank World Development Indicators longitudinal, unbalanced panel (1990-2024) was analysed using a multilevel beta-mixed-effects model. The prevalence (%) of HIV was converted into a fractional response that was modelled with random intercepts and slope to account for country-level heterogeneity. AIC/BIC was used to select the model, and the results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) accompanied with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: The median HIV prevalence in the world was 0.53% (0.10) with wide geographical variability. In sub-Saharan Africa (1.276% and 0.576%), the highest prevalence and the predicted prevalence were observed. The region-adjusted random-slope beta model (AIC = -64,477.14) was the best-fitting model. HIV prevalence declined over time (OR = 0.952, p = .002). Sub-Saharan Africa had significantly higher odds of prevalence (OR = 3.131; 95% CI: 2.075-4.726), followed by Latin America & Caribbean (OR = 1.566; 95% CI: 1.013–2.421). Large heterogeneity at the country level was noted, with the high-burden countries being Eswatini (6.77%) and Zimbabwe (6.07%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV among males aged 15-24 is decreasing all over the world, but is very uneven. Multilevel beta modelling offers a more precise and policy-relevant estimation and an intervention based on the targeted interventions to reach SDG 3.3. To begin with, governments and international health organisations need to consider focused, data-driven HIV response among young men in high-burden locations and governments and scholars ought to institutionalise sophisticated statistical modelling (e.g. multilevel beta mixed-effects models) in HIV monitoring and surveillance.