Objectives: This report described factors and prognoses associated with HIV vertical transmission cases in Taiwan. Methods: Descriptive statistical analysis was performed on childhood HIV/AIDS using a data bank obtained from the Center for Disease Control in Taiwan. Trained public health nurses were employed to interview with patients, mothers or their family members for collecting information on infection history. Results: Nine HIV vertical transmission cases had been reported by 2003 in Taiwan since 1988, 4 boys and 5 girls ages between 1 years old and 8 years old at diagnosis. They were born to 8 HIV infected mothers and 4 infected fathers. None of these mothers had been tested for HIV for prenatal care. Among the mothers, 7 had no knowledge of their HIV status at pregnancy, 1 person who gave birth to 2 infected cases intentionally kept secret of their infected status, and 3 persons were immigrants from other Asian countries. Two persons (one mother and one father) didn't reveal their HIV status to their spouse that induced 3 vertical transmission cases. Conclusion: This study suggests that HIV counseling and testing should be provided to all pregnant women in Taiwan. Along with a more vigorous policy, mandated by law to protect the spouse or partners of the infected.
Date:
2005-06
Relation:
Taiwan Journal of Public Health. 2005 Jun;24(3):217-223.
