Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission: the first year of Thailand's national program.
BACKGROUND
Each year in Thailand, about 10,000 children are born at risk for mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. In 2000, Thailand implemented a national program to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the results of implementation of the program.


METHODS
Monthly collection of summary data from hospitals.


METHODS
Public health hospitals (n = 822) in all 12 regions of Thailand, representing 75 provinces, excluding Bangkok.


METHODS
Women giving birth from October 2000 through September 2001, including HIV-seropositive women and their neonates.


METHODS
Percentages of women giving birth who were tested for HIV, HIV-seropositive women giving birth who received antenatal prophylactic antiretroviral drugs, and HIV-exposed neonates who received prophylactic antiretroviral drugs and infant formula.


RESULTS
Among 573,655 women (range, 27,344-77,806 by region) giving birth, 554,912 (96.7%) received antenatal care (range, 91.9%-98.8% by region). Of 554,912 women giving birth who had antenatal care, 517,488 (93.3%) were tested for HIV (range, 87.7%-99.4% by region) before giving birth; of 18,743 women giving birth who did not have antenatal care, 13,314 (71.0%) were tested for HIV (range, 21.7%-92.9% by region). Of 6646 HIV-seropositive women giving birth, 4659 (70.1%) received prophylactic antiretroviral drugs before delivery (range, 55.3%-81.2% by region). Of 6475 neonates of HIV-seropositive women, 5741 (88.7%) received prophylactic antiretroviral drugs (range, 67.4%-96.9% by region) and 5386 (83.2%) received infant formula (range, 65.3%-100% by region).


CONCLUSIONS
Major program components of Thailand's national program for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission were implemented. Thailand's experience may encourage other developing countries to implement or expand similar national programs.
Amornwichet
Pornsinee
P
Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tivanon Road, Nonthaburi, 11000, Thailand.
Teeraratkul
Achara
A
Simonds
R J
RJ
Naiwatanakul
Thananda
T
Chantharojwong
Nartlada
N
Culnane
Mary
M
Tappero
Jordan W
JW
Kanshana
Siripon
S
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013785:Thailand
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents