title: HIV-AIDS related maternal mortality in Benin City, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the causes and characteristics of maternal deaths in HIV-infected women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of maternal deaths in a cohort of HIV-infected women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A facility-based maternal death review using case records and mortality summaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty seven maternal deaths which occurred in HIV-infected women were reviewed in a university teaching hospital in southern Nigeria over a 4-year period. Causes and circumstances surrounding each maternal death were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One in every four maternal deaths occur in women with HIV infection. Majority (64.9%) of the women presented in advanced stage (WHO stage III/IV) of HIV syndrome while 86.5% had missed opportunities for antiretroviral programme. Pregnancy-related sepsis was the commonest cause of maternal death. Other common causes were death from tuberculosis and pneumonia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-related maternal death is emerging as a leading cause of pregnancy related death in Nigeria. There is need to scale-up preconception care and ensure comprehensive and sustainable prevention of mother -to-child transmission service for all pregnant women throughout Nigeria to reduce the burden of HIV/AIDS infection and minimize avoidable deaths from opportunistic infections.
authors.affiliation: Materno-Foetal Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Onakewhor
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Olagbuji
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ande
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ezeanochie
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Olokor
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Okonofua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000401:mortality*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult