Prevalence, incidence, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in rural South Africa.
Simple, robust approaches are needed to monitor prevalence, incidence, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in rural Africa. We have designed a method that uses antibody and viral RNA testing of dried blood spots obtained from mother-infant pairs attending routine immunisation clinics. In our study, prevalence and incidence of HIV-1 was highest in young women in their late teens and early twenties. In children born to infected mothers, prevalence increased from 14% in infants younger than 6 weeks of age to 24% at 3-6 months. The blood-spot approach is an effective method for surveillance of HIV-1 in women and children, and for early identification of incidence of this infection in women of child-bearing age.
Rollins
N C
NC
Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa.
Dedicoat
M
M
Danaviah
S
S
Page
T
T
Bishop
K
K
Kleinschmidt
I
I
Coovadia
H M
HM
Cassol
S A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology