Research
Eliminating Perinatal HIV in the United States
In this article, the authors describe progress thus far toward the goal of perinatal HIV elimination in the United States. They describe different approaches to perinatal HIV preventive services in the District of Columbia and five states, including Illinois. They conclude by sharing strategies…
Trends in Neonatal Prophylaxis in US Infants
In this article, the authors describe the use of neonatal prophylaxis over time. They observed overall low rates of combination prophylaxis, including for those infants at higher risk, demonstrating inconsistency with current guidelines in the United States.
Citation:
Williams PL, Huo Y,…
Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Care in Pregnancy
In this article, the authors describe the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and ARV adherence and viral suppression in pregnancy. They conclude that IPV during a pregnancy is associated with decreased ARV adherence and delays in achieving virologic suppression.…
Stigma and the Elimination of Perinatal HIV in the U.S.
In this article, the authors describe the relationship between stigma toward pregnant women with HIV and efforts to eradicate perinatal HIV transmission. They conclude that stigma plays a significant role in the inability of the U.S. to eliminate MTCT of HIV.
Citation:
Arora KS,…
Perinatal HIV Service Coordination
In this article, the authors describe a comprehensive concept of perinatal HIV service coordination. The authors identify six core functions to close the gap in the HIV care continuum for pregnant women and prevent perinatal transmission of HIV in the United States.
Citation: Andrews MM…
Risk of Acquiring HIV Increases During and After Pregnancy
New research suggests a woman’s risk of acquiring HIV through sex with a male partner living with HIV increases during pregnancy and is highest during the postpartum period. Click here to read more about this research presented at the 2018 CROI Conference.
Sustainability of Perinatal Rapid HIV Testing in Illinois
In this article, the authors utilized a retrospective cohort study of women delivered in Illinois hospitals (2012-2015) to assess the sustainability of Illinois' statewide program of HIV rapid testing for pregnant women presenting for delivery with unknown HIV status. They found that…
Missed Perinatal HV Prevention Opportunities in FL
The authors analyzed data pertaining to children born between 2007 and 2014 and perinatally exposed to HIV. Among other findings, perinatal transmission was most strongly associated with maternal HIV diagnosis during labor and delivery or after birth.
Citation:
Trepka MJ,…
Assessing the Impact of Perinatal HIV Case Management
The authors evaluated the impact of perinatal HIV case management on outcomes along the HIV care continuum for pregnant and postpartum women in Philadelphia. They found significant benefits for both viral suppression and retention in care.
Citation: Anderson EA, Momplaisir FM, Corson C, Brady…
Missed Opportunities for Prevention of MTCT
The authors present a case series highlighting factors contributing to missed opportunities for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Despite access to high-level care and follow-up, a small proportion of HIV-infected women transmitted the virus to their infants.
Citation: Scott…
Using a Public Health Approach to Eradicate Perinatal HIV
In this editorial, the authors propose using systems of care and a public health approach to achieve zero cases of perinatal HIV transmission.
Citation:
Esber A, Cohen S, Dempsey A, Cheever LW. Using systems of care and a public health approach to achieve zero perinatal HIV transmissions…
Estimated Perinatal HIV Infections Among Infants in the U.S.
A new publication from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides new estimates of the number of perinatal HIV cases among infants born in the United States. The estimated annual number of infections decreased from 216 in 2002 to 69 in 2013.
Citation:
Taylor AW, Nesheim…
A Reactive HIV Rapid Antibody Test in a Pregnant Woman
The article describes the case of a pregnant woman with a positive rapid antibody result and the subsequent tests performed to determine her HIV status. It provides an overview of confirmatory HIV testing and interpretation of fourth generation algorithm testing results.
Citation:…
Missed Opportunities for Repeat HIV Testing in Pregnancy
The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study at a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland to determine if women received a second HIV test and to compare HIV retesting with mandated syphilis retesting. They share their findings and recommendations for improving the uptake of repeat HIV testing…
Improving Perinatal HIV Exposure Surveillance and Reporting
The authors describe the current status of perinatal HIV exposure surveillance and reporting in the United States. They offer recommendations for improvement to sustain progress made in lowering perinatal HIV transmission rates.
Citation:
Brady KA, Storm DS, Naghdi A, Frederick T, Fridge…
Perinatal ART Exposure and Prevented Perinatal Infections in the United States
Using published estimates for the United States, the authors calculated the number of perinatally exposed and infected infants born during 1978-2010, the number of perinatal HIV cases prevented, and the number of infants exposed to antiretroviral drugs during the prenatal and intrapartum…
HIV Stigma and Adherence to Medications
Researchers from the WIHS (Women's Interagency HIV Study) analyzed reports of internalized stigma around HIV and adherence to HIV medications. For those women who reported suboptimal medication adherence, internalized stigma resulted in a perception of less social support, and more depressive…
Women's Health Care and Promotion of PrEP for HIV Prevention
Providers should have the discussion around HIV prevention with all sexually active female patients and should include preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of that discussion. Providers should also engage in shared decision-making with patients and review fertility desires and contraceptive…
Prenatal Care, Timing of Diagnosis, and HIV Outcomes in Pregnancy
Researchers retrospectively examined mother-child pairs in Philadelphia between 2005-2013 for timing of diagnosis of HIV and the relationship to engagement in prenatal care and ultimately, viral suppression. Of the 25% of the sample that was diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy, only 39% were…
Preconception Counseling for Women Living with HIV
Researchers in Florida sampled both behaviorally and perinatally HIV-infected women to determine their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors around conception and risk behaviors. Although there were some minor differences between the groups, researchers determined that preconception counseling is…
Postpartum Depression and Disclosure of HIV Status
Researchers in this retrospective cohort study looked at whether disclosure of a woman's HIV status to a partner or family member prior to delivery is associated with the risk of early postpartum depression. Disclosure to one or more family members was associated with a decreased risk of…
Preeclampsia and HIV
In a large scale, retrospective cohort study, researchers found an increased risk of preeclampsia in HIV-positive pregnant women compared to those that were HIV-negative. Additionally, those on ARVs during pregnancy showed a higher risk compared with those who were not on ARVs during pregnancy…
Perinatal HIV Remission Possibilities
HIV-infected infants that are started on ARVs early show low levels of replication-competent provirus, an absence of HIV-specific immunity, and the capacity to generate immune responses to potential immunotherapeutic interventions according to recent research. Current studies are examining ways…
Do Financial Incentives Increase HIV Care Engagement and Retention?
Successful HIV care involves getting tested, initiating care, remaining in care, and taking ARVs as needed. Movement through the HIV care cascade may be helped by the use of financial incentives that reward patients for completing steps in the cascade. Researchers reviewed the literature for use…
HIV Viral Load During Pregnancy Impacted by Time of Diagnosis and Prenatal Care
A retrospective review of HIV-positive women who delivered in Philadelphia between 2005-2013 found that women who were diagnosed HIV-positive during pregnancy were less likely to receive antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load than those diagnosed prior to pregnancy. …