HIV infection and prevention of mother-to-child transmission in childbearing women: La Romana, Dominican Republic, 2002-2006.

Objectives: To strengthen prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (pMTCT) program implementation in La Romana (LR) province, by estimating HIV prevalence and identifying characteristics associated with HIV infection in parturients.

Methods: Umbilical cord blood samples were collected at seven obstetrical sites where over 95% of LR's deliveries occur during four phases (pilot, expanded pilot, full study, and pMTCT program monitoring) from 2 August 2002 to 30 September 2006. Results were linked to data abstracted from delivery records.