Adherence to HIV treatment in pregnancy and post-partum: USA.
Article Type: Brief article
Subject: Pregnant women (Care and treatment)
HIV infection (Care and treatment)
Disease transmission (Prevention)
Pub Date: 11/01/2009
Publication: Name: Reproductive Health Matters Publisher: Reproductive Health Matters Audience: General Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Family and marriage; Health; Women's issues/gender studies Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 Reproductive Health Matters ISSN: 0968-8080
Issue: Date: Nov, 2009 Source Volume: 17 Source Issue: 34
Geographic: Geographic Scope: United States Geographic Code: 1USA United States
Accession Number: 225074408
Full Text: For women with HIV, pregnancy is a time when maintenance of maternal health and reduction of vertical HIV transmission are primary concerns. This study examined self-reported antiretroviral adherence in HIV-positive pregnant and post-partum women participating in the US Women and Infants Transmission Study, based on interviews during the third trimester of pregnancy and six months post-partum. During the third trimester visit, 77% of 399 women completed the adherence report and 61% of these (188/309) reported complete adherence. Factors associated with non-adherence were advanced HIV disease status, higher viral load and more health-related symptoms. At six months postpartum, 55% completed the measure and 44% of these reported complete adherence. Factors associated with non-adherence were ethnicity, more health-related symptoms and clinical site. Multivariate analyses across the two visits revealed that more health-related symptoms, higher viral load, increased alcohol use and clinical site were independently associated with non-adherence. Medication adherence was more likely during pregnancy than post-partum, perhaps due to motivation to reduce vertical transmission and/or intensive antenatal attention. Women need more support to adhere to HIV treatment and health care during and after the post-partum period. (1)

(1.) Mellins CA, Chu C, Malee K, et al. Adherence to antiretroviral treatment among pregnant and postpartum HIV-infected women. AIDS Cate 2008 ;20(8) :958-68.
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