Ossibi Ibara BR^{1, 2,}, Bintséné Mpika G^{1, 3}, Adoua Doukaga T.^{1, 2}, Mouanga-Yidika SVS², Potokoue Mpia SN^{1, 3}, Ekat M², Bendett P², Voumbo G², Kinga F², Itoua C^{1, 3}, Iloki H.L^{1, 3}

Objective: This paper aims to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in women of childbearing age in the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Brazzaville University Hospital and to know about the associated factors. Patients and method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study of cases of HIV infection in women aged between 15 and 49 years, hospitalized in the infectious diseases unit between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021, screened in pre or per-hospitalization, whether or not receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy and having given a free and informed consent to participate in the present study. Results: 361 hospitalized patients (19.1% of admissions) with mean age 38.7 ± 7.2 years [17-49], a primary education level (n = 209; 57.9%), housewives (n = 185; 51.2) and single (n = 295; 81.7%). These women were nulliparous in 27.4% of cases (n = 99) and 202 of them (56%) no longer had the desire to procreate. The mean time to consultation was 39.3 ± 80.5 [1-730] days, mainly for fever and deterioration of general condition respectively in 91.7% (n = 331) and 53.5% (n = 193). The various opportunistic infections found were tuberculosis (n = 143; 39.6%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (n = 50; 13.9%) and cryptococcosis (n = 34; 9.4%). They were infected with HIV1 (n = 303; 83.9%) and WHO stage 4 (n = 260; 72%). Mean CD4 rates were 165.2 ± 56.8 [2-644]. 213 patients (59%) were administered antiretroviral therapy within a duration of 30 ± 6.7 days [10-90]. This was mainly the combination TDF + FTC + EFV (n = 151; 41.8%). The outcome was unfavourable in 46.3% (n = 167). Immune restoration syndrome was found in 17 cases (8%). The overall lethality was 41.3% (n = 149) due mainly to septic shock (n = 76; 21.1%) and anaemia (n = 31; 8.7%). The desire to procreate (p = 0.001), the impairment of general condition (p = 0.01), the stage of WHO (p = 0.001) and the antiretroviral treatment (p = 0.002) have a link with the death of patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV infection in childbearing age women is high at Brazzaville University Hospital, in a context of low socio-economic level and late treatment. This justifies the high lethality. This shows the interest of strengthening awareness of HIV in this category of the population for a better prevention.

HIV infection, childbearing age woman, CHU-Brazzaville, prevalence