Evaluation of preventive measures for mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Aracaju, State of Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction:The main route of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children is from mother to child. The preventive measures established for the Aids Clinical Trial Group protocol 076 (ACTG 076) significantly reduces HIV vertical transmission rates. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the ACTG 076 protocol in the maternity units of State of Sergipe, Brazilian northeast. Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective study with a quantitative approach, with HIV positive women and children exposed, attending a Maternity reference for high-risk pregnancies. Data were obtained from patient records registered in the years 1994 to 2010. Results: Amongst the 110 pregnant women and exposed newborns, the ACTG 076 protocol was fully utilized in only 31.8% of the participants. During the prenatal period, zidovudine (ZDV) was taken by 79.1% of the pregnant women. Only 49.1% of HIV seropositive patients used ZDV during delivery. Two (1.8%) children were considered infected and 50 (45.5%) do not have a conclusive diagnosis to date. Conclusions: There were significant deficiencies in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, including lack of compliance with the three phases of the ACTG 076 protocol; inadequacies in prenatal care; inappropriate mode of delivery and lack of adequate follow up of exposed children.

Short Communication: Use of Raltegravir in Late-Presenting HIV-Infected Pregnant Women

“…9 Recent studies reported a prevalence rate of vertical HIV transmission in Brazil that ranges from 2.5% to 8.6%. 10,11 Although there are only a few publications on late-presenting pregnant women, the available information suggests that poor access to prenatal care and HIV late diagnosis during pregnancy remain major problems in Bahia, Brazil. [10][11][12] major HIV reference center in Bahia, which is also the main antenatal care service for HIV-infected women in the state.…”

Prevalence of Candida yeasts in oral samples from children with AIDS and children exposed and not exposed to HIV served by SUS in the state of Bahia, Brazil

“…This tendency has been observed throughout Brazil by the increased number of newborns exposed to the risk of HIV [1][2][3] . The first cases of AIDS in children were recorded in 1982 by Ammann and O'Reilly, who reported cases of vertical transmission of HIV from the infected mother to child.…”

“…Most children acquire the virus from their mothers through vertical transmission, which compromises their immune system in the fullness of its growth 6 . Vertical transmission can occur in the uterus at anytime during pregnancy, during normal or cesarean delivery, or via breastfeeding [1][2][3]5 . Significant functional abnormalities due to HIV infection make children more susceptible to opportunistic infections, including those in the oral cavity.…”

Profilaxia da transmissão vertical do HIV: cuidado e adesão desvelados por casais

“…One of the unfoldings of this monitoring when the focus are infected women in association with the possibility of pregnancy, with treatment aimed at prevention of mother-to-child vertical transmission (VT) of HIV. Recommendations and routines for health services and users are implemented (4) , aiming at obtaining good therapeutic results, resulting in the maintenance of adherence to the treatment and prophylactic measures (5)(6) . Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) enables the increased survival of patients (3) and the prevention of infection in some situations, it does not mean it is easy to be performed (7) .…”