Prevalence of HIV Infection and Neonatal Outcome in Pregnant Women attending the Antenatal Clinic in ESICMC & PGIMSR, Bangalore

The objectives were to study the prevalence of HIV infection and neonatal outcome among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic in a teaching hospital.

A prospective study was carried out at the antenatal clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of ESICMC & PGIMSR, Bangalore between January 2006 and December 2011. 18207 pregnant women were tested for HIV after adequate counseling and with informed consent. Those who tested positive were followed up with antenatal care and CD4 levels. Single dose Nevirapine was given to the mother at the onset of labour and to the neonate after delivery. Children were followed up with HIV testing at 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months of age.

Out of the 18207 pregnant women tested for HIV, 66 were HIV positive with the prevalence being 0.36%. Among the HIV positive women, 20 (34.5%) delivered by caesarean section and 38 (65.5%) delivered vaginally. Majority 46 (79.3%) of infants had birth weight >2500 g. All the children available for follow-up tested HIV negative at various periods of follow-up. 4 HIV positive pregnant women and 14 infants were lost to follow up inspite of dedicated efforts to trace them.

In our study, 18207 pregnant women were tested for HIV after counseling and the prevalence of HIV positives was 0.36%. This emphasizes the need for providing universal access to these services. Optimal antenatal and postnatal care is important to prevent transmission of HIV to the infant and also to prevent adverse birth outcomes. The fact that many HIV positives were lost to follow up reflects the fact that more concerted efforts are required to remove the stigma attached to people living with HIV.