HIV control in postpartum mothers: a turbulent time. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Loftus, Hannah; Burnett, Alexander; Naylor, Simone; Bates, Sylvia; Greig, Julia
• Is Part Of: International journal of STD & AIDS. Volume 27:Number 8(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 680
• Page End: 683
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Europe -- antiretroviral therapy -- treatment -- women -- HIV -- AIDS -- pregnancy -- postpartum -- PMTCT -- adherence; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.951
• DOI: 10.1177/0956462415601913
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-4624

Abstract

We conducted an audit looking at the management of HIV-positive women in the postpartum period. We found that of the women with a previous AIDS-defining condition or a CD4 count <350 cells/µL, 83% were correctly continued on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 84.1% of these had good virological control. ART was correctly stopped in 100% of women who had always had a CD4 count >500 cells/µL. A significant finding from our audit was that all of the women who had poor virological control or stopped ART against medical advice had social issues or self-reported depression. The main recommendation was to extend the pregnancy multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting to include the 12-month postpartum period to offer support to women to try to improve treatment outcomes.