Pregnancy outcomes and HIV amongst women in Northwest Tanzania, from 2015-2016

BackgroundAdverse pregnancy outcomes are rampant across Sub Saharan Africa and significantly increase the risk of neonatal deaths. HIV infection is a key contributor to adverse pregnancy outcomes and has a disproportionately high burden amongst women in both Sub Saharan Africa and Tanzania. Socio-demographic factors and care-seeking behaviors can either exacerbate or prevent HIV infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. ObjectivesThis study aims to determine HIV prevalence by age, residence, marital status, and education and to determine how pregnancy outcomes are impacted by HIV infection, the use of health services, and socio-demographic factors. MethodsThis study utilized secondary data from an epidemiological Sero Survey Round 8 (2015-2016) within the Kisesa HIV cohort in Magu District, Mwanza, Tanzania. All data was analyzed using the statistical software "Stata Version 17.0." The variables were re-coded for operational use and cross-tabulations with chi-squared tests and logistic regression models were conducted. ResultsData analysis showed an HIV prevalence of 9.5% amongst women who had been pregnant before. HIV positive women were more likely to lose a child (AOR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.1,1.7). Women with higher education had significantly lower odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes as compared to women with no formal education (AOR=0.5; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.7). Women with more children, especially 10+ children, also had higher odds of adverse outcomes as compared to mothers with 1-3 children (AOR=25.1; 95% CI: 17.0, 37.0). Elderly mothers had seven times the odds of losing a child as compared to young mothers (AOR=7.0; 95% CI: 2.5, 19.6). ConclusionsThis study provides needed insight into factors that contribute to HIV infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The results support the implementation of new policies that target HIV prevention and treatment amongst women and emphasize maternal education to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.