BackgroundAlthough the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding is reduced considerably with the use of antiretroviral therapy, infant feeding by HIV positive mothers remains controversial. Weighing risks against benefits generates intense debate among policymakers, program managers and service providers in sub-Saharan Africa, considering that the major causes of infant death of malnutrition and infectious diseases, could be prevented if mothers breastfeed their babies. Whereas breastfeeding involves some risk of HIV transmission, not breastfeeding poses considerable risk to infant survival. This study investigated perceptions and practice of breastfeeding of HIV-exposed infants among HIV positive mothers.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Enugu metropolis among HIV positive mothers receiving care for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV from two public and two private hospitals. Interviewer-administered questionnaire survey was done with 550 participants as they exited the final point of service delivery. Descriptive statistics of perception and practice variables and cross tabulation of selected variables was performed.ResultsMost mothers knew that HIV could be transmitted through breast milk. The majority perceived any type of breastfeeding as beneficial to the infant: 230 (83.6%) in private facilities, and 188 (68.4%) public facilities. Over three-quarters of the mothers breastfed their infants and their reasons for breastfeeding included personal choice, cultural norms, fear of HIV status being disclosed and pressure from family members. A statistical significant association was found between; (i) practice of breastfeeding and marital status, (p < 0.01), and (ii) practice of breastfeeding and household income provider (p = 0.02). However, neither marital status (AOR 1.4; 95% CI 0.3, 6.8) nor being the household income provider (AOR 4.9; 95% CI 0.6, 12.9) is a significant predictor of breastfeeding of HIV-exposed infants.ConclusionsBreastfeeding remains a common trend among HIV positive women and it is associated with economic independence of women and social support. Fear of stigma negatively affects practice of breastfeeding. Hence, HIV positive mothers need economic independence and the support of family members to practice recommended infant feeding options.

Background:The impact of uncontrolled hypertension results in undesirable cardiovascular events. Hence, there is a need to emphasize on adequate control of blood pressure.Objectives:The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and determinants of controlled blood pressure and the complications of hypertension in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective study of 257 patients of Cardiology Unit of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital diagnosed with hypertension from 2014 to 2018. A proforma-designed questionnaire was used to retrieve responses from the patients’ medical records. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. The level of significance was set at 0.05.Results:The prevalence of controlled blood pressure was 35.8% with mean blood pressure of 112.39/72.72 mmHg. Adherence to drug therapy was found to be associated with controlled blood pressure (χ2= 8.370,P= 0.005). Two-thirds of patients diagnosed with hypertension developed complications of which hypertensive heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney diseases were the commonest. Age (χ2= 9.629,P= 0.008) and the initial presenting diagnosis (χ2= 7.662,P= 0.004) were factors associated with the development of complications.Conclusion:Adequate blood pressure control is still a challenge among hypertensive patients in the study population. A comprehensive program is advocated for the control of blood pressure that will accommodate drug adherence in addition to education, and socio-behavioral change modifications.