title: Evaluation of preventive measures for mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Aracaju, State of Sergipe, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main route of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children is from mother to child. The preventive measures established for the Aids Clinical Trial Group protocol 076 (ACTG 076) significantly reduces HIV vertical transmission rates. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the ACTG 076 protocol in the maternity units of State of Sergipe, Brazilian northeast.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive, retrospective study with a quantitative approach, with HIV positive women and children exposed, attending a Maternity reference for high-risk pregnancies. Data were obtained from patient records registered in the years 1994 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst the 110 pregnant women and exposed newborns, the ACTG 076 protocol was fully utilized in only 31.8% of the participants. During the prenatal period, zidovudine (ZDV) was taken by 79.1% of the pregnant women. Only 49.1% of HIV seropositive patients used ZDV during delivery. Two (1.8%) children were considered infected and 50 (45.5%) do not have a conclusive diagnosis to date.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were significant deficiencies in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, including lack of compliance with the three phases of the ACTG 076 protocol; inadequacies in prenatal care; inappropriate mode of delivery and lack of adequate follow up of exposed children.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE. ligiadolce@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lígia Mara Dolce de
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Thaísa Fonseca Siqueira
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Marcos Vinícius da
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.forename: Eduardo de Lemos
authors.initials: Ede L
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Alessandro Henrique da Silva
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Ricardo Queiroz
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Gurgel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult