Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seropositivity among Eye Surgical Patients at a Rural Eye Care Facility in South-Eastern Nigeria

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency infection among patients who underwent surgery at a rural eye care facility in southeastern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients who had undergone surgery and a pre-operative Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) test, between August 2008 and July 2009 at the Eye unit of the Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Ohaozara, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed for age, sex, type of surgery and HIV status. Frequency, percentage and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with univariate analysis and the parametric method. RESULTS: A total of 380 cases were reviewed comprised of 228 males and 152 females (M:F= 1.5:1).The mean age of the cohort is 56 years (range, 4 years to 91 years). Fourteen patients (3.7%; 95% confidence interval 1.8 – 5.6) were HIV positive. CONCLUSION: A high HIV sero-prevalence was reported in our study. Infection-control precautionary measures are indicated to minimize risk of HIV transmission to ophthalmic surgeons and allied health-workers.