Analysis of the timing and delivery methods, clinical and laboratory indicators of hiv-infected pregnant women in Saint Petersburg

Abstract

Assessing the timing and delivery methods, clinical and laboratory indicators of HIV-infected pregnant women is important for organizing effective care for this group of patients and further reducing the frequency of perinatal transmission of HIV infection. In 20142017, in Saint Petersburg, there were 2,524 childbirths in HIV-infected women, who were observed during pregnancy mainly in the Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases (AIDS Center). The average frequency of perinatal HIV transmission in the city over the study period was 1.3%, which is lower than the average for Russia (2.5%). A retrospective and prospective analysis of 1,858 medical records of HIV-infected women observed during pregnancy at the AIDS Center in 20142017 was performed. An annual decrease in the proportion of chronic viral hepatitis C coinfection was found, which was proportional to a decrease in parenteral HIV transmission in the study group. Due to the increase in HIV testing coverage, the frequency of detection of infections in pregnant women in antenatal clinics during registration was reduced. This allows conducting a thorough examination, counseling and a timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy planning. The vast majority of HIV-infected women are committed to follow-up in medical facilities during pregnancy, to receive antiretroviral prophylaxis (ARP) and, as a result, to give birth to a healthy child. The rate of preterm birth among HIV-infected women is higher than in HIV-seronegative women. This determines the timely initiation of ARP/ART during pregnancy for prevention of preterm delivery. The proportion of births through the birth canal increases annually, but the operative delivery rate remains above the population.