Intrauterine Infection after Delivery: A Marker of HIV-1 Seropositivity among Puerperal Women in Uganda?

Abstract

A case controlled study about HIV seroprevalence among women with postpartum endometritis—myometritis (PPEM) matched with two controls. Each was performed in a non-governmental organization hospital in Kampala, Uganda. All participants were offered HIV pre- and post-test counselling. Personal and clinical information was obtained and HIV-1 ELISA tests performed on blood samples and discordant results resolved by Western blot test. HIV-1 seroprevalcnce was significantly higher among women with PPEM than controls, 26 (42.3%) and 26 (21.3%) respectively ( P=0.002). Women with PPEM were two-and-a-half times more likely to be HIV-positive than controls, odds ratio 2.74 (95% CI 1.34–5.65). Single or cohabiting women and low salaried women were also significantly more among PPEM cases than controls. In conclusion, PPEM cases had significantly higher seroprevalence of HIV-1 infection than controls and this needs further elucidation for purposes of management strategies.