The value of AIDS prophylaxis in prevention of mother-to- Fetus transmission

Since AIDS is common in childbearing ages ant its prevalence is increasing in the recent years, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between taking perinatal prophylaxis and HIV infection in children of HIV positive mothers in Kermanshah province.

This descriptive-analytical study was of retrospective type. The data collection tool was a checklist prepared according to risk factors of mother-to-child HIV transmission. The study population were 66 children with HIV-positive mothers who reffered to the Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center in Kermanshah. The information of these children was recorded by reviewing the patientschr('39') files. Parents of 44 HIV-negative children were contacted for serological re-testing. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.

The results showed that there is a significant relationship between the delivery age, the rate of maternal prophylaxis, and the first maternal CD4 after delivery and childrenchr('39')s HIV infection (P < 0.05), but there was no significant relationship between the motherchr('39')s level of education, maternal prophylaxis, delivery type, breastfeeding, gestational age, smoking, and injecting drugs and mother-to-child HIV transmission (P <0.05). There was also a significant relationship between maternal gestational age at birth and child weight at birth with mother-to-child HIV transmission (P ˂ 0.05).

Since perinatal prophylaxis can reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission, it is essential that medical personnel consider the use of perinatal prophylaxis.
Key Words: Perinatal, Prophylaxis, HIV.