HIV infection among pregnant women attended in testing and counseling centers for AIDS

Authors

  • Antônio José Costa Cardoso Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; Diretoria Regional de Brasília
  • Rosane Harter Griep Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
  • Heráclito Barbosa de Carvalho Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Preventiva
  • Alessandro Barros Ministério da Saúde do Brasil; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde
  • Sônia Baptista da Silva Ministério da Saúde do Brasil; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde
  • Robert H. Remien Ministério da Saúde do Brasil; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102007000900016

Keywords:

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV infections^i2^sepidemiol, HIV infections^i2^sprevention & cont, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Risk factors, Socioeconomic factors, Epidemiologic Surveillance, Cross-sectional studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To estimate HIV prevalence and identify high-risk sexual behavior for infection in pregnant women who were given prenatal assistance. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on attendance records of 8,002 pregnant women (25% of all municipalities) who lived in 27 municipalities in Southern Brazil in 2003 and had anti-HIV tests done in a testing and counseling center that performed prenatal assistance. Sociodemographic and behavioral data were gathered, as well as syphilis and HIV test results, during the individual counseling sessions registered in the data bank of the Sistema de Informações dos Centros de Testagem e Aconselhamento (Information System on Testing and Counseling Centers). Women who sought the centers for confirmation of previous serology or were referred to this service due to the presence of AIDS symptoms were excluded from the data base. RESULTS: A total of 0.5% of all the pregnant women analyzed (CI 95%=0.3;0.6) were HIV positive. The only variable associated with HIV seropositivity was schooling. The majority of them were basically exposed through unprotected sexual intercourse with the only partner they had a steady relationship with. Younger pregnant women who were single, unemployed and had lower level of education constituted the group with highest exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The Sistema de Informações dos Centros de Testagem e Aconselhamento turned out to be useful for the epidemiological surveillance of HIV infection and high-risk behavior among pregnant women and could also be useful as regards other populations.

Published

2007-12-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Cardoso, A. J. C., Griep, R. H., Carvalho, H. B. de, Barros, A., Silva, S. B. da, & Remien, R. H. (2007). HIV infection among pregnant women attended in testing and counseling centers for AIDS . Revista De Saúde Pública, 41(suppl.2), 101-108. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102007000900016