[Prevention of HIV mother to child transmission in Cotonou: child follow-up].

UNLABELLED

The aim of this survey was to analyse the constraints of implementing on a larger scale the protocol of prevention of HIV/AIDS from mother to child by Nevirapine intake. This survey takes stock of the components of the children medical care follow-up.

PATIENTS AND METHODOLOGY

Here is a straight line survey on 231 newborns from 222 screened mothers during pregnancy in 36 Health Centres in Cotonou and suburbia. Nevirapine has been administered in a single dose of 200 mg to mothers during labour and a dosage of 7 mg to the infant at birth. These infants have been steadily followed-up from 13 June 2000 to 30 April 2002. Exclusively feeding either on artificial milk or breastfeeding and a premature weaning at four months of age have been recommended. PCR screening has been conducted at one and six months of age or one month after the effective weaning. Cotrimoxazole has been systematically administered at six weeks.

RESULTS

HIV/AIDS sero prevalence was globally evaluated at 4% in the screened pregnant women. One hundred and ninety seven mothers and children have effectively benefited from nevirapine intakes and this protocol has been adequately observed in 51% cases. The medical check-up rate was 18.5%. The average age of children under medical care was 10.8 months at the end of the study. The mother to child transmission rate was globally estimated at 20.4% and 7% in an optimal situation (the protocol was observed and the rate of CD4 above 500). In case of breastfeeding exclusively followed by a premature weaning in most cases, the average age of effective weaning was 8.3 months. Twenty-three children died during medical care follow-up basically from dehydration brought about by diarrhea and vomiting during weaning period.

CONCLUSION

The survey confirms the potency of nevirapine in preventing HIV transmission from mother to child in non immunosuppressed women and lays emphasis on real problems for which appropriate solutions should be found before the implementation on a larger scale of this protocol.