AIDS by mother-to-child transmission: survival analysis of cases followed from 1983 to 2002 in different regions of Brazil.
Antiretroviral therapy contributes to decreasing morbidity and mortality, and ultimately to increasing survival. In Brazil, there are regional differences in HIV epidemiology regarding pregnant women and children with HIV/AIDS. This study evaluates survival time after AIDS diagnosis in 914 children infected by mother-to-child transmission, reported between 1983 and 1998 and followed until 2002, in Brazil's five regions. Time between birth and HIV diagnosis decreased over the years, mainly in the South and Southeast Regions. There was a significant improvement in survival; more than 75% of cases were still living four years after diagnosis in the 1997-1998 group. This Brazilian study demonstrates that even with regional inequalities in health care infrastructure it is possible for a developing country to establish an effective system of universal and free access to antiretroviral therapy that produces a significant increase in survival for children with AIDS.
Matida
Luiza Harunari
LH
Coordenação Estadual de DST/AIDS de São Paulo, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde, São Paulo, Brazil. lmatida@uol.com.br
Ramos
Alberto Novaes
AN
Moncau
José Eduardo Cajado
JE
Marcopito
Luiz Francisco
LF
Marques
Heloisa Helena de Sousa
HH
Succi
Regina Célia Menezes
RC
Della Negra
Marinella
M
Hearst
Norman
N
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000401:mortality*; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis