HIV-1 among childbearing women and newborns in Wisconsin.

To estimate the prevalence of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) among Wisconsin childbearing women (CBW), a continuous blinded HIV-1 seroprevalence survey is being conducted. This survey uses dried blood specimens obtained from infants as part of the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Program. From February 1989 through March 1990, 79,546 specimens from Wisconsin residents were tested for HIV-1 antibody, 21 (0.026%) were HIV-1 seropositive. Among specimens obtained from Milwaukee County CBW, 15 (0.076%) of 19,781 were HIV-1 seropositive compared to 6 (0.010%) of 59,765 obtained from other Wisconsin counties. After adjusting for maternal residence, Wisconsin minority CBW were six times more likely to be HIV-1 seropositive when compared to white CBW. The survey results underscore the need for strategies to prevent HIV-1 infection that focus on women of childbearing age in Wisconsin.