risk factors impacting on the spread of hiv among pregnant women ...

RISK FACTORS IMPACTING ON THE SPREAD OF HIV AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
At the time of diagnosis, 46.4% were aged 20–24 years; 27.2% were 25–29; 19.2% were 19 years
old or less; 7.3% were 30 or older. 37.1% of the women were living alone; over half lived with
regular sexual partners (27.2% in registered marriage, and about as many in common-law marriage).
87.4% were pregnant at the time of diagnosis – half of them were diagnosed with HIV only during
delivery (more in St Petersburg than in the total sample). Only 53.8% had received antenatal care
during this period, which is less than in other cities. Only 22.7% were diagnosed within the first
12 weeks of pregnancy; 11.4% during the third trimester or later.
In the St Petersburg sub-sample, 51.7% did not receive either pre- or post-test counselling when
they were diagnosed with HIV. This is higher than in the other sub-samples.
Only 22.5% received pre- and post-test counselling. About 15.9% were given only post-test counselling,
and 7.9% received only pre-test counselling.
57.6% knew someone HIV-positive before their own diagnosis (more than average). Every fourth
woman had an HIV-positive friend; some had HIV-positive relatives.
23.8% were not sure how they became infected with HIV. About half the women thought that they
received HIV through an unprotected sexual contact (although that proportion is lower than in the
other sub-samples). 25.8% linked their infection with injecting drugs (more than average). A statistically
insignificant proportion of women (2%) suggested they were infected in medical settings or
through tattoos.
84.1% of the women interviewed in St Petersburg reported that they do not need any medical, social,
information or other services (well above average). Only a statistically insignificant number reported
being in need of additional medical services, ART, medication or social support. Only a few said
they were in need of information about living with HIV, children’s health and children’s rights, or
psychological and legal help.
2.1.3. BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HIV-POSITIVE WOMEN BEFORE
AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS
2.1.3.1. SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AND PREVENTION OF SEXUAL TRANSMISSION
All the women interviewed had had penetrative sex before HIV diagnosis. The distribution of age
at sexual debut among women in the St Petersburg sub-sample is mostly consistent with mean
values. 69.5% first had sex between 15–17 years old; 26.8% at 18–19; 9.3% before 15; 1.3%
over 19.
Before diagnosis, 29.8% had 2–4 sexual partners; every fifth woman had 4–10 sexual partners;
an insignificant number of women had sex with only with one partner or with more than 10 partners.
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