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IntroductionHIV infection and pregnancy are both common among female sex workers (FSW), indicating the need for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) among FSW.MethodsFSW were enrolled into studies in Swaziland, Burkina Faso and Togo using respondent-driven sampling. Women completed interview-administered socio-behavioural surveys and HIV counselling and testing. This secondary analysis describes contraceptive use and attempted pregnancy among reproductive-aged FSW (16–49 years). Robust Poisson regression with generalised estimating equations to account for clustering within recruitment networks was used to separately estimate associations between current unmet contraceptive need and attempted pregnancy among FSW.ResultsOverall 1666 FSW were enrolled, 1372 (82.4%) of whom had ever been pregnant. In Togo and Burkina Faso, 83 FSW reported a prior HIV diagnosis and having a child, of which 12.1% (10/83) reported a child known to be HIV-positive. Twenty-five per cent of FSW had an unmet need for contraception; 9% of FSW employed dual contraception, including highly effective non-barrier methods and consistent condom use. Consistent condom use varied substantially by partner type and was higher with clients than non-paying partners. Nineteen per cent (n=313/1666) of FSW were trying to conceive. HIV-positive, undiagnosed FSW were more likely to be trying to conceive as compared to HIV-negative FSW; among 98 HIV-positive women trying to conceive, 25.5% were on antiretroviral therapy.ConclusionsFSW have varying reproductive goals and contraceptive usage. Efforts to improve coverage of comprehensive family planning – including efforts to increase HIV testing and engagement in treatment among FSW trying to conceive – are necessary for PMTCT.

Zidovudine reduces the rate of vertical transmission of HIV in non-breastfed populations. We assessed the acceptability, tolerance, and 6-month efficacy of a short regimen of oral zidovudine in African populations practising breastfeeding. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out in public clinics of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Eligible participants were women aged 18 years or older, who had confirmed HIV-1 infection and pregnancy of 36–38 weeks duration, and who gave written informed consent. Exclusion criteria were severe anaemia, neutropenia, abnormal liver function, and sickle-cell disease. Women were randomly assigned zidovudine (n=214; 300 mg twice daily until labour, 600 mg at beginning of labour, and 300 mg twice daily for 7 days post partum) or matching placebo (n=217). The primary outcome was the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in the infant on the basis of sequential DNA PCR tests at days 1–8, 45, 90, and 180. We compared the probability of infection at a given age in the two groups. Analyses were by intention to treat. Women were enrolled between September, 1995, and February, 1998, when enrolment to the placebo group was stopped. Analysis was based on 421 women and 400 lifeborn infants. Baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were similar in the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier probability of HIV infection in the infant at 6 months was 18·0% in the zidovudine group (n=192) and 27·5% in the placebo group (n=197; relative efficacy 0·38 [95% CI 0·05-0·60]; p=0·027). Adjustment for centre, period of recruitment, mode of delivery, maternal CD4-cell count, duration of labour, prolonged rupture of membranes, and duration of breastfeeding did not change the treatment effect. The proportions of women taking more than 80% of the planned maximum dose were 75% before delivery, 81% during labour, and 83% post partum, without statistical difference between the groups. No major adverse biological or clinical event was reported in excess among women and children of the zidovudine group. A short course of oral zidovudine given during the peripartum period is well accepted and well tolerated, and provides a 38% reduction in early vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection despite breastfeeding.

Background. Antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis effectively reduces mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV). However, it is unclear whether stopping ARVs after breastfeeding cessation affects maternal HIV disease progression. We assessed 18-24-month postpartum disease progression risk among women in a randomized trial assessing efficacy and safety of prophylactic maternal ARVs. Methods. From 2005 to 2008, HIV—infected pregnant women with CD4 + counts of 200-500/mm 3 were randomized to receive either triple ARV (zidovudine, lamivudine, and lopinavir/ritonavir during pregnancy and breastfeeding) or AZT/sdNVP (zidovudine until delivery with single-dose nevirapine without postpartum prophylaxis). Maternal disease progression was defined as the combined endpoint of death, World Health Organization clinical stage 4 disease, or CD4 + counts of <200/mm 3 . Results. Among 824 randomized women, 789 had at least 1 study visit after cessation of ARV prophylaxis. Following delivery, progression risk up to 24 months postpartum in the triple ARV arm was significantly lower than in the AZT/sdNVP arm (15.7% vs 28.3%; P = .001), but the risks of progression after cessation of ARV prophylaxis (rather than after delivery) were not different (15.0% vs 13.8% 18 months after ARV cessation). Among women with CD4 + counts of 200-349/mm 3 at enrollment, 24.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.7-35.5) progressed with triple ARV, and 23.0% (95% CI, 17.8-29.5) progressed with AZT/sdNVP, whereas few women in either arm (<5%) with initial CD4 + counts of ≥350/mm 3 progressed. Conclusions. Interrupting prolonged triple ARV prophylaxis had no effect on HIV progression following cessation (compared with AZT/sdNVP). However, women on triple ARV prophylaxis had lower progression risk during the time on triple ARV. Given the high rate of progression among women with CD4 + cells of <350/mm 3 , ARVs should not be discontinued in this group. Clinical Trials Registration. ISRCTN71468410.

Objectives: To describe annual trends in syphilis seroprevalence and to identify risk factors of syphilis among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Methods: Women were recruited between January 1995 and July 1998 in three antenatal clinics where counselling and HIV testing services had been established in the context of a trial evaluating a short course of zidovudine to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV (ANRS 049 trial). Sociodemographic variables were collected during HIV pretest counselling sessions. Syphilis diagnosis was considered when serum was positive with both rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) tests. Results: Overall, 10 980 pregnant women were screened. Syphilis seroprevalence was 0.24% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15–0.35) without changes over time. HIV prevalence was 8.8% (CI: 8.3–9.3). In a multivariable analysis, having casual sex partners (odds ratio (OR) = 4.48; CI: 1.62–12.38), being HIV seropositive (OR = 2.62; CI: 1.02–6.74), and being illiterate (OR = 3.78; CI: 1.24–11.48) were independent risk factors for syphilis infection. Conclusions: This study suggests low syphilis seroprevalence in this city of Burkina Faso. Sexually transmitted disease programmes should be reinforced to offer free access to syphilis screening and treatment in order to eliminate this disease, in coordination with HIV prevention and care.

The objectives of this study were to monitor the trends of the HIV epidemic between 1995 and 1999 among pregnant women in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest town of Burkina Faso, and to discuss the possible effect of preventive interventions (condom availability) on sexual transmission of HIV in this context. Age-specific trends in HIV prevalence obtained from sentinel surveillance programme were analysed. Among antenatal clinic attendees, HIV prevalence was 7.5% (n=401) in 1995, 10% (n=200) in 1996, 7.6% (n=448) in 1997, 8.4% (n=642) in 1998 and 5.3% (n=716) in 1999 without demonstrated temporal trend (P=0.12). The average number of condoms available per person (aged 15-49 years) per year increased from 0.6 in 1992 to 5.7 in 1995 and 6.0 in 1999. Anonymous surveys are less subject to selection bias and suggest a stabilization of the HIV prevalence around 7.3% in Bobo-Dioulasso. Distribution of condoms could explain at least, partly, this stabilization of the HIV epidemic.

To describe annual trends in syphilis seroprevalence and to identify risk factors of syphilis among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Women were recruited between January 1995 and July 1998 in three antenatal clinics where counselling and HIV testing services had been established in the context of a trial evaluating a short course of zidovudine to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV (ANRS 049 trial). Sociodemographic variables were collected during HIV pretest counselling sessions. Syphilis diagnosis was considered when serum was positive with both rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) tests. Overall, 10,980 pregnant women were screened. Syphilis seroprevalence was 0.24% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.35) without changes over time. HIV prevalence was 8.8% (CI: 8.3-9.3). In a multivariable analysis, having casual sex partners (odds ratio (OR) = 4.48; CI: 1.62-12.38), being HIV seropositive (OR = 2.62; CI: 1.02-6.74), and being illiterate (OR = 3.78; CI: 1.24-11.48) were independent risk factors for syphilis infection. This study suggests low syphilis seroprevalence in this city of Burkina Faso. Sexually transmitted disease programmes should be reinforced to offer free access to syphilis screening and treatment in order to eliminate this disease, in coordination with HIV prevention and care.

Zidovudine reduces the rate of vertical transmission of HIV in non-breastfed populations. We assessed the acceptability, tolerance, and 6-month efficacy of a short regimen of oral zidovudine in African populations practising breastfeeding. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out in public clinics of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Eligible participants were women aged 18 years or older, who had confirmed HIV-1 infection and pregnancy of 36-38 weeks duration, and who gave written informed consent. Exclusion criteria were severe anaemia, neutropenia, abnormal liver function, and sickle-cell disease. Women were randomly assigned zidovudine (n=214; 300 mg twice daily until labour, 600 mg at beginning of labour, and 300 mg twice daily for 7 days post partum) or matching placebo (n=217). The primary outcome was the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in the infant on the basis of sequential DNA PCR tests at days 1-8, 45, 90, and 180. We compared the probability of infection at a given age in the two groups. Analyses were by intention to treat. Women were enrolled between September, 1995, and February, 1998, when enrolment to the placebo group was stopped. Analysis was based on 421 women and 400 lifeborn infants. Baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were similar in the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier probability of HIV infection in the infant at 6 months was 18.0% in the zidovudine group (n=192) and 27.5% in the placebo group (n=197; relative efficacy 0.38 [95% CI 0.05-0.60]; p=0.027). Adjustment for centre, period of recruitment, mode of delivery, maternal CD4-cell count, duration of labour, prolonged rupture of membranes, and duration of breastfeeding did not change the treatment effect. The proportions of women taking more than 80% of the planned maximum dose were 75% before delivery, 81% during labour, and 83% post partum, without statistical difference between the groups. No major adverse biological or clinical event was reported in excess among women and children of the zidovudine group. A short course of oral zidovudine given during the peripartum period is well accepted and well tolerated, and provides a 38% reduction in early vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection despite breastfeeding.