Missed opportunities for prevention of vertical HIV transmission in Canada, 1997-2016: a surveillance study.

Missed opportunities for prevention of vertical HIV transmission in Canada, 1997-2016: a surveillance study. CMAJ Open. 2018 May 10;6(2):E202-E210 Authors: Bitnun A, Lee T, Brophy J, Samson LM, Kakkar F, Vaudry W, Tan B, Money DM, Singer J, Sauvé LJ, Alimenti A, Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program Abstract BACKGROUND: Vertical HIV transmission has declined in Canada, but missed opportunities for prevention continue to occur. We sought to determine the adequacy, and changes over time in adequacy, of uptake of maternal and neonatal antiretroviral therapy for the prevention of vertical HIV transmission, and to determine the vertical transmission rate over time and according to adequacy of antenatal antiretroviral therapy during the combination antiretroviral therapy era in Canada. METHODS: The Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program collects data annually through retrospective chart review concerning HIV-infected women and their infants. We determined receipt of adequate antiretroviral treatment (antenatal combination antiretroviral treatment for ≥ 4 wk, intrapartum intravenous zidovudine treatment and 4-6 wk of infant oral zidovudine treatment) and predictors of inadequate antenatal combination antiretroviral therapy (none or < 4 wk) in Canada in 1997-2016. RESULTS: We identified 3785 mother-infant pairs. Uptake of 4 weeks or more of antenatal combination antiretroviral therapy increased over time acro...
Source: cmaj - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: CMAJ Open Source Type: research