Epidemiology and detection of human immunodeficiency virus among pregnant women in Hong Kong.

Objectives: To determine the epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus infection among pregnant women and the neonatal outcomes in Hong Kong.

Design: Retrospective observational study composed of two parts: record review of pregnant women and unlinked anonymous screening of cord blood from neonates.

Setting: Two human immunodeficiency virus clinics and the Government Virus Unit.

Participants: Female patients attending the two clinics who became pregnant and neonates who underwent routine metabolic screening by the Government Virus Unit between 1992 and 1999.

Main Outcome Measures: The outcomes of neonates born to women who had human immunodeficiency virus infection during pregnancy.

Results: Forty-one human immunodeficiency virus-related pregnancies were recorded among 32 infected women. Fifteen pregnancies were terminated, of which 14 were in women who knew their infection status before conception. Twenty-six pregnancies continued to term, resulting in 26 live births. Twelve babies were born to women who knew their infection status before delivery. One baby was confirmed to be infected. Six women were given zidovudine for prophylaxis against vertical transmission and none of the babies were infected at birth. Of the remaining 14 human immunodeficiency virus-related pregnancies, the mothers' status became known only at a later date and nine (64.3%) babies were confirmed to be infected at the age of 18 months or older. The rate ratio of giving birth to an infected baby was 8.18 from mothers who did not know their status antenatally. Unlinked anonymous screening showed that the seroprevalence rate for human immunodeficiency virus in pregnant women was 0.032% (1/3125) in Hong Kong in 1999.

Conclusions: Human immunodeficiency virus-related pregnancy is not rare in Hong Kong and the majority of infected mothers were not identified and treated. Detection of these pregnancies will be invaluable for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Universal antenatal screening of human immunodeficiency virus antibody is proposed as an effective strategy.