Overall Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Has Fallen Dramatically in the U.S., But Benefits Are Not Equal Across Racial/Ethnic Groups

The number of U.S. infants born with HIV has declined dramatically since the mid-1990s, when studies demonstrated that prophylactic antiretroviral therapy using AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir) could cut the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission. The latest perinatal guidelines recommend that whenever possible, HIV positive pregnant women should receive 3-drug combination antiretroviral therapy.

Unfortunately, however, the decline in the incidence of HIV infection among infants has not been equal across all racial/ethnic groups, according to a recent report on women's health issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The continued disparity is largely attributable to differences in access to appropriate care before and during pregnancy.

According to Women's Health USA 2007, a total of 111 infants in the U.S. were infected with HIV in 2005. But while this rate is much lower than that seen in the 1980s and early 1990s, the decline has not been as great among African Americans and Hispanics, who account for nearly 80% of all HIV-infected babies.

Below is the text of a press release from HRSA highlighting the findings regarding perinatal HIV transmission and several other women's health issues:

HRSA's Women's Health USA 2007 Reports Sharp Drop in HIV-Positive Newborns

October 24, 2007

The number of U.S. children born with HIV/AIDS has declined markedly since the mid-1990s in all demographic groups, according to the latest edition of HRSA's Women's Health USA.

From 1994 to 2005, the number of non-Hispanic black infants born with HIV/AIDS has declined by 65.6 percent. The drop among non-Hispanic white infants born with HIV/AIDS was more than 80 percent during the same time, while the decline among Hispanic infants born with HIV/AIDS was 40.6 percent.

Women's Health USA 2007 -- the sixth annual report on the health status and service needs of America 's women -- focuses on emerging issues and trends among women across the lifespan.

Other findings of Women's Health USA 2007 include:

Up to 16 percent of women, usually beginning before age 25, are at risk for the gynecological disorder vulvodynia. Hispanic women may be at greater risk for this disorder.
Early prenatal care among racial and ethnic groups with historically low rates of utilization, including non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native women, has increased by at least 20 percent since 1990.
In 2004, 23.9 percent of women had untreated dental caries, with non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women most likely to have untreated caries.
Serious psychological distress occurs in almost 23 percent of women aged 18 to 25 years, compared to 9 percent of women over age 50.
In 2005, 72.9 percent of mothers ever breastfed their infants, with Asian/Pacific Islanders most likely to breastfeed their infants (81.4 percent).
In 2005, 71.8 percent of women aged 18 to 64 had private insurance, 14.6 had public insurance, and 17.8 percent were uninsured.

Women's Health USA 2007 is an easy-to-read snapshot of the most current women's health data available and include graphs and summaries of long-term trends. This publication is available on-line at Women's Health USA 2007.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. HRSA also is responsible for promoting and improving the health of our nation's women, children, and families. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov.

11/16/07

Source

U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA's Women's Health USA 2007 Reports Sharp Drop in HIV-Positive Newborns. Press release. October 24, 2007.