Socio-Demographic Factors and Epidemiological Characteristics of HIV-Positive Pregnant Women with High Risk of Vertical Transmission of the Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the features of the course of pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period in HIV-positive women with a high risk of HIV vertical transmission. Methods and Results: A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of mother-child pairs for the period from 2017 to 2019 was conducted in the Irkutsk City Perinatal Center (level III). The clinical observation group included HIV-positive women (n=213) and their newborn children with a high risk of perinatal immunodeficiency virus transmission (n=214). The findings of the conducted study demonstrated that most HIV-seropositive women with a high risk of HIV vertical transmission had an aggravated social history, a high prevalence of pelvic inflammatory diseases, and a high incidence of opportunistic and AIDS-defining conditions. Evaluation of PMTCT preventive complex showed that the target parameters in women with a high risk of HIV transmission were not reached: the first stage was performed for 49.3% of pregnant women with good ART adherence, the second stage – for 97.1% of obstetric patients, the third stage – in 100% of HIV perinatally exposed children. HIV RNA was detected in 3.7% of children, which evidences their antenatal infection. Conclusion: Development of efficient communication with HIV-positive women aimed at preservation of their health and decrease of logistic barriers to access to medical care.