Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission in Zidovudine Prophylaxis Program in the Lower Central Part of Thailand

Abstract

The perinatal HIV prevention policy in Thailand were implement thoughout public health community by Ministry of Public health (MOPH) since A.D. 2000 by support zidovudine (ZDV) and short course prophylactic regimen. The HlV-PCR testing service of these infants in Lower Central part of Thailand were evaluated for transmission rate. The requisition form used by HlV-PCR testing service included information the ZDV receiving in mother and regimens were obtained. There were 512 infants had PCR testing for HIV-1 infection during April 2000, though November 2001 from 10 hospitals. 245 infants from 9 hospitals followed MOPH program and 64 infants from the other followed Thai Red Cross program. There are 3 from 54 (5.6% ; 95% CI -0.5 to 11.7), 6 from 126 (4.8% ; 95% Cl 1.1 to 8.5) and 1 from 65 (1.5% ; 95% CI -0.5 to 4.5) were infected respectively for MOPH program each year during 2000 to 2001. 10 from 245 infants (4.1% ; 95% CI 1.6 to 6.6) of total infection in MOPH program were compared to 2 from 64 (3.1% ; 95% Cl -1.1 to 7.3) of Thai Red Cross program found no statistic difference (P= 0.531, α = 0.05 Fisher exact test), While 37 from 178 infants (20.8% ; 95% CI 14.8 to 26.8) were infected in ZDV non prophylactic group. The infection rate are significantly decreased in both ZDV treatment regimens. The result of this study indicates that perinatal HIV prevention by both MOPH and Thai Red Cross regimens are effective and can reduce the rate of infection in infants in practical routine use in the lower central part of Thailand.