Vertical HIV transmission: epidemiological variables of pregnant women treated in a Specialized Care Service in Alagoas State, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The epidemiological profile of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection has been changing and leading to changes in the profile of affected individuals worldwide. The outspread of the HIV epidemic among women has been growing in Brazil. The feminization of this epidemic has several consequences, such as increased number of infected children. Vertical transmission - from mother to child – is one of the major concerns. Objectives: Identifying epidemiological variables of pregnant women living with this virus, who are treated at a Specialized Assistance Service in Alagoas State. Methods: Retrospective and transversal study based on documental analysis. The sample comprised a group of women treated in this service and registered in the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Results: Sixty-two (62) pregnant women living with this virus were notified from 2017 to 2018. Based on the investigated variables, most of these pregnant women were in the age group 20-29 years, had low schooling, brown skin, lived in Maceió City, were notified in the 2nd or 3rd pregnancy trimester, and had undergone prenatal care and reported to have taken antiretroviral drugs during prenatal care; however, a considerable number of them still presented detectable viral load before delivery. Conclusion: Most pregnant women were young individuals with low schooling, who, despite undergoing prenatal care and taking medications during pregnancy, were notified from the second gestational trimester and maintained detectable viral load even before delivery, a fact that may indicate fragility in the prenatal care and / or in health education actions focused on this population.