Management of maternal HIV-1 infection in pregnancy : the experience of the GUIDE clinic

Abstract

As of the end of 2007 there were an estimated 33.2 (30.6-36.1) million people worldwide living with HIV-1 or AIDS. Almost seven thousand new infections occurred ever day in 2007. Children under 15 years of age accounted for 1200 of these new infections and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) represents the major mode of acquisition in this group. [Page 29] Aims of this thesis. In Ireland, the introduction of antenatal screening for HIV infection, coinciding with the increase in asylum seekers from countries of HIV prevalence has led to a dramatic increase in the numbers of HIV infected women being diagnosed for the first time in pregnancy. This thesis will describe the experience of delivering HIV care to pregnant HIV-1 infected women at the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases (GUIDE), St. James's Hospital, Dublin from July 2000 to June 2003 and the research questions and opportunities that arose along the way.