New epidemiological problem in Poland: vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus

• Published in: Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 459 - 462
• Main Authors: Lech, M M, Szczepanska-Putz, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-10-1998
• Subjects: Female; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - etiology; HIV Infections - transmission; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - statistics & numerical data; Poland - epidemiology; Population Surveillance; Pregnancy; Registries; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Poland
• ISSN: 0269-5022; 1365-3016
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3016.1998.00136.x

New diagnostic, prophylactic and treatment perspectives in HIV infection of the fetus and newborn is a challenge for health services in Poland. In view of these advances, the ascertainment of HIV status of all pregnant women is important both for individuals and for the health services. By law, laboratory HIV testing in Poland can be performed only on a voluntary basis. All newly diagnosed cases of AIDS and HIV infections are anonymously reported to the National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw. There are no clear data about vertical transmission of HIV infection in Poland mostly because of the unknown number of women who are positive at delivery. Almost all our data were collected from Polish Regional AIDS/HIV Diagnostic and Therapeutic Centres. During the period 1986–95, 88 children were delivered by HIV‐positive women and vertical transmission occurred in 15 cases.