final program.qxd - Parallels Plesk Panel

PP 1.14
Screening for HIV-infection and mother-to-child transmission of HIV among
pregnant women attending a maternity ward in Dakar (Senegal)
Birahim Pierre Ndiaye (1), Alassane Diouf ( 1 ), and Moussa Sarr ( 2 )
1
Hopital Aristide Le dantec, Dakar, Senegal
2
Westat, Inc., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
Objectives
The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant
women in Dakar and their infants in Dakar.
Methods
Systematic screening was performed among pregnant women admitted to the University
Hospital maternity ward for delivery. Women who were positive were confirmed by
Western Blot. Children of HIV positive mothers were tested using RNA-PCR essays.
In addition to the HIV positive women identified through regular screening, other HIV
positive women were also referred to the maternity ward for delivery from HIV and
Infectious disease clinics in the area.
Results
From June 2000 to June 2004, 874 were proposed to screen for HIV infection, and 691
tests were performed (79.06%) among women who consented for the testing. Twenty four
women tested HIV positive out of 691, for a prevalence of 4% 95% CI (0.6% - 7.4%).
During the same period, an additional 102 HIV infected women were referred to the
department for delivery, in addition to the 24 HIV infected women identified during the
regular screening procedures. Overall, 5 HIV positive children were born from a total of
126 HIV infected mothers. The overall transmission rate was 4.00% 95%CI (0.6% - 7.4%).
A total of 66 HIV positive women who attended the clinic prior to delivery for prenatal care
received short-term antiretroviral therapy, and 16 c-section were performed.
A significantly lower transmission rate of 1.5% (0 - 3%) was found among women who
received a short-term ARV prophylaxis at delivery +/- C-section.
Conclusion
These results show an HIV prevalence rate higher than the national average turning
around 1%. This may be related to a self-selection of women at risk for HIV infection
knowing that support can be obtained in the department. Other socio-demographic
characteristics could also explain this high prevalence and should be investigated.
HIV transmission rates from the mother to the child can be considered as low, mainly
among those who received short-term ARV +/- C-section.
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