Suspected Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Taipei Regional Center, 2013–2014

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.20160809.32(15).002

Chih-Wei Chang¹, Shu-Yuan Chung¹, Jiunn-Shyan Julian Wu^1＊,Huey-Rong Liou¹, Chung-Ching Shih², I-Ling Lee¹, Jer-Jea Yen¹

2016 Vol.32 NO.15

Correspondence Author： Jiunn-Shyan Julian Wu^1＊

Abstract：

After the implementation of comprehensive HIV screening program to pregnant women in Taiwan since 2005, mother-to-child transmission of HIV infections were significantly lower, but in 2014, three cases of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection were reported to Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC). We characterized the 32 cases of suspected HIV baby or children reported to TCDC’s Taipei Regional Center during 2013–2014. Risk factors of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection included loss of contact prior to known pregnancy, no HIV screening test during pregnancy, no HIV treatment during pregnancy, delivered at non-AIDS-appointed hospitals; hospitals not carrying out prenatal rapid HIV screening to pregnant women, not providing prenatal intravenous prophylaxis nor performing caesarean section, and no HIV-rapid screening immediately nor prophylaxis within 6–12 hours after birth. In order to effectively prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection, we need both the public health and the medical institutions to strengthen tracking HIV women whom lost contact and improve contact tracing and HIV tracking on their children under the age of 12. Medical institutions should implement HIV screening of pregnant women and refer them to AIDS-appointed hospitals, enhance rapid HIV screening for high-risk pregnant women and their newborns, and strengthen treatment capacity for HIV maternal women and suspected HIV baby.