In the Rakai district of Uganda pregnant women have higher risk of acquiring HIV than women who are not pregnant, according to a study published in this week's issue of THE LANCET. The researchers controlled for behavioural factors that could affect HIV acquisition and still found this trend; suggesting that biology rather than behaviour is responsible. They believe that hormonal changes during pregnancy could make women more susceptible to HIV infection.

An observational study in Malawi found that HIV acquisition is substantially higher during pregnancy than after giving birth. Another study in Rakai, Uganda suggested similar trends. However, neither of these other studies adjusted for factors that can affect HIV risk.

Ronald Gray (John's Hopkins University, Maryland, USA) and colleagues assessed the incidence rate of HIV during pregnancy and lactation, and compared this to the incidence rate of HIV in women who were not pregnant or breastfeeding. They assessed 2188 HIV-negative sexually active women who were pregnant or breastfeeding and compared rates of HIV acquisition during these periods with 8473 non-pregnant and non-lactating women. The investigators found that the HIV incidence rate was higher during intervals of pregnancy than during breastfeeding, or exposure intervals with no pregnancy or lactation. This excess risk remained significant even after adjustment for sociodemographic or behavioural factors that might increase HIV risk. HIV incidence rates were 2.3 per 100 person years during pregnancy, 1.3 per 100 person years during breastfeeding, and 1.1 per 100 person years in the women who were not pregnant or breastfeeding.

Professor Gray comments: "We cannot generalise our findings beyond the Rakai setting and it would be important for other investigators to verify our results. However, if women are at increased risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy, our findings represent a public-health problem, both for the mother and poss
'"/>

Contact: Joe Santangelo
j.santangelo@elsevier.com
1-212-633-3810
Lancet
29-Sep-2005

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Women with migraines and visual symptoms may have higher stroke risk
2. Womens mortality rates for cardiovascular disease differ widely among hospitals
3. Women with breast cancer do not get potentially life-saving information, survey reveals
4. New health insurance survey -- Women have trouble affording care needed
5. Women without regular medical care at increased risk of ovarian cancer
6. Women need expanded musculoskeletal care during pregnancy, study finds
7. NHLBI awards 12 Womens Health Initiative contracts
8. Women on osteoporosis drug can discontinue use with no risk
9. Women need not wait to conceive after breast cancer
10. Women with rheumatoid arthritis have significantly less chance of remission than men
11. Women with mental disorders less likely to have mammograms