American Journal of Health Research 2015; 3(1): 18-23 Published online January 29, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajhr) doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150301.14 ISSN: 2330-8788 (Print); ISSN: 2330-8796 (Online) HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among rural pregnant women in North Central Nigeria Christian Isichei 1, * , Pamela Brown 2 , Mercy Isichei 3 , Jean Njab 4 , Tinuade Oyebode 5 , Prosper Okonkwo 6 1 Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, /Faith Alive Foundation, Jos, Nigeria 2 New Mexico department of Corrections, Santa Fe, USA 3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, /Faith Alive Foundation, Jos, Nigeria 4 Department of Chemical Pathology, Bingham University, Jos Campus, Nigeria 5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria 6 AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) Ltd, Abuja, Nigeria Email address: Christian_isichei@yahoo.com (C. Isichei) To cite this article: Christian Isichei, Pamela Brown, Mercy Isichei, Jean Njab, Tinuade Oyebode, Prosper Okonkwo. HIV Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Rural Pregnant Women in North Central Nigeria. American Journal of Health Research. Vol. 3, No. 1, 2015, pp. 18-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150301.14 Abstract: Aim: To determine the prevalence of HIV infection and associated risk factors among rural pregnant women in Plateau state, Nigeria. Study Design: The study involved a cross-sectional study of pregnant rural women in antenatal clinics (ANCs) in five (5) rural villages of Mangu Local Government area of Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Methodology: A total of 248 pregnant women with mean age of 26 years were recruited through a random sampling method during ANCs with pre and post counseling initiated and a structured survey questionnaire used. Venous blood samples were collected using needles and syringes, thereafter transported to a central point at Gindiri, centrifuged and serum sent to Plateau Specialist Hospital virology laboratory for HIV testing. Results: Participants with less than six (6) months planned postpartum sexual abstinence(cultural to abstain from Sexual Intercourse during pregnancy) were 8 times significantly more likely (OR 8.2; 95% CI 1.4, 42.0) to be infected compared with those who observed more than six (6) months planned postpartum abstinence. Also, women from polygamous marriages had a five-fold greater and significantly odds (OR 5.36; 95%CI 1.3, 24.5) of being HIV positive compared to women from monogamous marriages. Furthermore, parous women were 4 times significantly more likely (OR 4.66; 95%CI 1.1, 20.0) to be infected than nulliparous women. Previous exposure to malaria and educational status were not significantly associated with HIV infection. Conclusion: HIV prevalence was 3.2% (95% CI; 1.5 – 6.5)comparable to Nigerian’s current overall prevalence rate and high lights need to eliminate preventable risk factors and relevance of male involvement in HIV prevention especially during pregnancy including ANCs, Care, Treatment and Support. There was higher rate of HIV infection among women who did not abstain from sexual intercourse during pregnancy suggesting multiple partnerships and need for marital faithfulness especially from the men during pregnancy. Keywords: HIV, Risk Factors, Rural, Prevalence and Male Involvement 1. Introduction Globally, HIV/AIDS has emerged the leading cause of mortality among women of reproductive age and contributes a great deal to the death of infants and children 1 . Over the decades, the epidemic, once dominated by infected males has become progressively feminized and each day, an estimated 1000 children under the age of 15 acquire Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection 2 .The high rates of HIV infection and its consequences is a socio economic challenge for most developing countries, with the potential to reverse health and developmental gains as reflected by indices such as, life expectancy at birth, infant and maternal mortality rate among others 3 . In Sub Saharan Africa, an estimated 2.9 million children were living with HIV /AIDS in 2012 and about 260,000 children were newly infected with HIV. Over 90% of these infections occur through mother-to-child transmission