From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Progress toward elimination of perinatal HIV infection--Michigan, 1993-2000

Abstract

In 1994, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) issued guidelines for maternal and neonatal zidovudine (ZDV) use to reduce perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. These guidelines recommend maternal ZDV use during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and during labor and delivery (L&D) and administration of ZDV to the neonate for the first 6 weeks of life. In 2001, PHS updated 1995 guidelines for routine HIV counseling and voluntary testing of pregnant women. The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) requires reporting of all children who are perinatally exposed to HIV and follows up these children to monitor their infection status and record demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of infected children. The reporting of perinatally HIV-exposed children enables MDCH to monitor the effectiveness of public health efforts to prevent perinatal HIV transmission and assists the targeting of prevention programs and activities. This report summarizes surveillance data collected through December 31, 2001, on children born to HIV-infected women in Michigan during 1993-2000. The report highlights rapid adoption of PHS guidelines that resulted in the reduction of perinatally acquired HIV infection to historically low levels in Michigan. Improving levels of prenatal care (PNC) for HIV-infected pregnant women, especially substance users, and routine HIV counseling and voluntary testing for all pregnant women are needed to further reduce perinatal HIV infection.