[Initial evaluation of a programme to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus infection in Equatorial Guinea].
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women in Equatorial Guinea (EG) has been reported as 7.3%. In 2008 an updated version of the PMTCT protocol was accepted according to the current WHO guidelines. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcome of children exposed to HIV after the introduction of the protocol.


METHODS
A retrospective review was conducted on the clinical characteristics of the infants born to HIV-infected mothers in the Hospital Regional de Bata and Primary Health Care Centre Maria Rafols in Bata (EG) between June 2008 and November 2011. The diagnosis of HIV infection in children was based on rapid serology tests.


RESULTS
A total of 103 children were included, of which 47 were males. Fifty three patients (51%) completed the follow-up (51%). Fourteen children (26%) were diagnosed with HIV infection (11 presumptive diagnosis, 3 due to persistence of antibodies at 18 months). Six children (12%) died before a definitive diagnosis. Just over than half (52%) of mothers received antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy. The transmission rate in children whose mothers received ART was 16% (3/19), compared with 43% (10/23) in children whose mothers did not receive it. Only one child was infected (8%) when the mother received ART, and child received postnatal prophylaxis.


CONCLUSIONS
The PMTCT protocol compliance was still very low. Antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women decreased the rate of vertical transmission, but the rate still remains very high. Many children were lost to follow-up. Strategies to prevent loss to follow-up and methods for earlier virological diagnostic are needed.
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Torrejón de Ardoz, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, España. Electronic address: katiebadillo@gmail.com.
Katie
K
Badillo-Navarro
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
Luis
L
Prieto-Tato
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital General de Bata, Bata, Guinea Ecuatorial.
Jacinta
J
Obiang-Esomoyo
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.
Pedro
P
Avedillo-Jiménez
Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Madrid, España.
Antonio
A
Vargas-Brizuela
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.
Pablo
P
Rojo-Conejo
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D016703:Equatorial Guinea; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
Equatorial Guinea; Guinea Ecuatorial; Human immunodeficiency virus; Mother-to-child transmission; Transmisión materno-infantil; Transmisión vertical; Vertical transmission; Virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana