Changing trend in Seroprevalence of HIV -1 among antenatal mothers attending tertiary care hospital, Coimbatore.

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONHuman immunodeficiency
virus is increasing at an alarming
rate globally. The commonest route of infection
in children less than 15 years is
mother to child transmission which accounts
for more than 90percent. Since definitive
cure from HIV is far from reach prevention
by timely screening of pregnant
women and short course chemotherapy for
antenatal mother and newborn is possible.
OBJECTIVETo assess the changing
trend of prevalence of HIV1 infection
among the antenatal mothers attending
the PPTCT centre in our hospital for a period
of three years.Materials and methodsThis
retrospective study involves 9199
registered antenatal mothers who were
referred from antenatal OPD of our hospital
to the PPTCT centre during a period of
three years from January 2010 to December
2012. Pretest counseling was given
and informed consent obtained from the
mothers. HIV screening was done for all
as per NACO guideline.
Post-test counseling ART referral and
CD4 count were done accordingly. Antiretroviral
therapy with Nevirapine was
given to seropositive AN mothers and
their babies.ResultsOut of 9199 antenatal
mothers screened 41 were found to be
HIV positive with a Seroprevalence rate of
0.4percent. The prevalence rate of HIV
during 2010, 2011 and 2012 were 0.76
percent 0.30 percent and 0.29 percent respectively.
During the follow up of the babies,
one baby was found to be positive
for HIV 1 infection. ConclusionThe seroprevalence
was low and there is a declining
trend of prevalence of HIV 1 infection
during the study period. Antenatal screening
for HIV through PPTCT is essential to
prevent the epidemic of pediatric HIV.