title: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Brazil during the years 2000 and 2001: results of a multi-centric study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV in Brazil during the years 2000 and 2001, and to identify the maternal and neonatal variables that were associated with this transmission. It was a cross-sectional, observational study with retrospective data obtained from patient medical records. The children were followed at 63 medical sites situated in five geographical macro-regions of the country (20 States and the Federal Capital). Children enrolled were those that were born of HIV-infected mothers and it was necessary for the mothers to present documented proof of HIV-infection before or during pregnancy, at time of delivery or in the first three months after delivery. There were 2,924 children enrolled and mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV were 8.6% (95%CI: 7.2-10.2) for the year 2000 and 7.1% (95%CI: 5.8-8.6) for the year 2001. The following variables were associated with lower mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV: elective cesarean section, diagnosis of mother's infection before or during pregnancy, access to HIV viral load and T CD4+ lymphocyte count during prenatal care, greater birth weight and avoidance of breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. succi@picture.com.br
authors.forename: Regina Célia de
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Menezes Succi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards