Toward elimination of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus transmission in the United States: effectiveness of funded prevention programs, 1999-2001
A subset of this analysis was presented in preliminary form at the 2005 HIV Prevention Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, June 14, 2005.
Received 15 December 2006; received in revised form 14 February 2007; accepted 1 March 2007.
The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of federal funds in preventing perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in the United States. We used surveillance data from 1999 and 2001 in 6 funded areas to estimate the proportion of HIV-infected women prescribed perinatal prophylaxis and whose infants were HIV infected. We compared outcomes with 5 unfunded areas in which surveillance data were available. The proportion of funded-area women prescribed prophylaxis increased from 80.1% to 85.9% (P < .01), compared with a decline in unfunded areas from 95.1% to 86.7% (P < .01); the difference in trends between groups was P < .01. The perinatal HIV transmission rate for funded areas declined from 6.5% (105 cases) in 1999 to 3.4% (46 cases) in 2001 (P < .01), compared with a decline in unfunded areas from 4.3% (19 cases) to 3.4% (13 cases) (P = .59); the difference in trends between groups was P = .24). The number of perinatal HIV infections in the funded areas decreased by 56%, achieving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s goal of a 50% reduction in incidence by 2005.
1Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Information Technology Support, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
2Northrop Grumman Information Technology, Information Technology Support, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Reprints: Stephanie L. Sansom, PhD, MPP, MPH, HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS E-48, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333
The findings and views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.