The introduction of human immunodeficiency virus into the North Carolina pediatric population.
The authors reviewed the means by which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity was acquired for the 134 seropositive children seen at Duke University Medical Center prior to September 1990. Perinatal transmission occurred in 111 (83%) and blood product transmission in 15 (11%). Of the 108 mothers (there were three sets of siblings) responsible for perinatal transmission, 44 (41%) had acquired their infection while residing in North Carolina. Intravenous (IV) drug use by the mother or her sexual partner was the significant risk factor for maternal infection in 91 (84%) of the total cases and in 38 (86%) of the 44 women infected in North Carolina. The proportion of women who acquired their HIV infection from a sexual partner who was an IV drug user was significantly greater for mothers who were resident in North Carolina when infected compared with mothers infected elsewhere (P less than .001). On the basis of admission to drug treatment programs during the 1990 fiscal year, cocaine is the predominant IV drug used in North Carolina. Admissions to cocaine abuse programs occurred throughout the state, and mothers who acquired HIV infection from IV drug use were more likely to live in counties with a higher frequency of cocaine abuse treatment.
Grant
C
C
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
McKinney
R E
RE
Weedy
C
C
Katz
S L
SL
Wilfert
C M
CM
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors