Abstract
Purpose: Programs for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are essentially focused on prevention actions that occur during prenatal care. This study aimed to evaluate the mother-to-child vertical transmission (MCVT) rate, and identify its possible causes, in a sample of pregnant women with HIV.Materials and methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study. The sample was composed of HIV-positive pregnant women who delivered a live infant in the maternity ward at the hospital of the Federal University of Parana in Brazil, between January 2007 and December 2012.Results: The calculated MCVT rate in this study was 5.1%. Comparisons between MCVT cases and control pregnant women with HIV but without MCVT showed that the highest risk factors for MCVT were: the detection of HIV infection status only at delivery; non-attendance to high risk prenatal care; unknown viral load; and late onset of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Conclusions: Our results corroborate the assertion that viral replication control is essential for HAART, and that adherence to therapy is essential for such control. Factors that influence adherence to the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) must be identified, and medical, psychological, or social assistance must be properly provided to these mothers.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
