Disparities in rates and trends of HIV/AIDS during pregnancy across the decade, 1998-2007.
OBJECTIVE
To examine trends in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates among pregnant women over the previous decade and across subpopulations in the state of Florida.


METHODS
We analyzed all Florida births from 1998 to 2007 (n = 1,700,734) using hospital discharge data linked to birth certificate records.


RESULTS
The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in pregnancy decreased from 298 per 100,000 births to 252 per 100,000 births (P for trend < 0.04), representing a 15% decrease from 1998 to 2007. Hispanic mothers had twice the rate of HIV/AIDS compared with white mothers (adjusted rate ratio = 2.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.9 to 2.5), whereas black mothers had about 11 times the rate of white mothers (adjusted rate ratio = 10.8; 95% confidence interval = 9.8 to 12.0). The rate of HIV/AIDS coinfections in pregnancy increased 88.8% (P for trend = <0.0001) among hepatitis B-positive women and 635% (P for trend = <0.0001) among hepatitis C-positive women.


CONCLUSIONS
Although HIV/AIDS rates in pregnancy have decreased, black and Hispanic mothers and those infected with hepatitis B and C still have disproportionately high rates of HIV/AIDS. Our findings serve as a call for increased and intensified HIV/AIDS prevention interventions among minority women of childbearing age and those at risk for hepatitis B and C infections.
Salihu
Hamisu M
HM
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, USA. hamisu.salihu@gmail.com
Stanley
Kara M
KM
Mbah
Alfred K
AK
August
Euna M
EM
Alio
Amina P
AP
Marty
Phillip J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult