title: AZT Availability in Illinois birthing hospitals: is the perinatal HIV prevention safety net in place?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prevent perinatal HIV transmission, providers must identify HIV status for all women in labor and newborns, and provide timely antiretroviral therapy if necessary. The objective of this study is to evaluate the availability and accessibility of zidovudine (AZT) in Illinois birthing hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed all Illinois birthing hospital pharmacies by telephone in February 2005 regarding availability, accessibility, and protocols surrounding AZT use in the perinatal period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 137 pharmacies participated. Only 43.1% reported having syrup and IV AZT available and only 37.2% indicated the ability to have AZT available on labor and delivery within 30 min during off hours. Protocols for treating HIV positive women in labor and exposed newborns were available in only 37.2% of pharmacies while 72.4% had protocols for antiretroviral therapy for occupational post-exposure prophylaxis. Variables associated with pharmacies having AZT available included being a major academic hospital and serving a predominately (greater than 96%) white patient population. Timely provision of AZT was more likely to occur in urban, major academic hospitals serving a predominately white population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to further reduce perinatal HIV transmission, availability and timely access to both syrup and IV AZT must be improved in Illinois birthing hospitals.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, Maternal and Child Health Division, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Eary
authors.forename: Ann E Bryant
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Borders
authors.forename: Arden
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Handler
authors.forename: Mardge H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D018743:Perinatal Care; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000600:supply & distribution*
chemical_list: D015215:Zidovudine