Prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women in Vellore region

• Published in: Indian journal of medical research (New Delhi, India : 1994) Vol. 97; p. 227
• Main Authors: John, T J, Bhushan, N, Babu, P G, Seshadri, L, Balasubramanium, N, Jasper, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India 01-11-1993
• Subjects: Adult; Female; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Humans; India - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Prevalence; India; Comparative Studies; Health Services; Husband-wife Comparisons; Maternal Health Services; Viral Diseases; Delivery Of Health Care; Reproduction; Population Characteristics; Counseling; Pregnant Women; Clinic Activities; Population; Program Activities; Maternal-child Health Services; Demographic Factors; Programs; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Health; Southern Asia; Hiv Serodiagnosis; Hiv Infections; Examinations And Diagnoses; Diseases; India; Pregnancy Outcomes; Pregnancy; Studies; Screening; Health Facilities; Hospitals; Asia; Developing Countries; Primary Health Care; Prenatal Care
• ISSN: 0971-5916

All pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of a large hospital in Vellore, India (Christian Medical College Hospital) were screened for HIV infection between October 1987 and June 1992. A total of 36,953 blood samples were thus screened and 20 infected women were identified. Among these 18 women had acquired HIV infection from their husbands, who were also detected to be HIV infected. While these 18 women were monogamous, all the husbands had multiple sex partners. Two of the 20 women in this series were commercial sex workers. Among the 20, 17 (85%) women belonged to low socio-economic status, while three were from well-to-do families, with the husbands being businessmen or teachers. As the overall prevalence (0.054%) of HIV infection among pregnant women was relatively high and equal to or higher than many States in the USA and in areas outside London in the UK, the authors recommend that strict universal precautions be instituted in all obstetric practice in India.