Partner notification by HIV-1 seropositive pregnant women: association with infant feeding decisions

AIDS. 2001 Apr 13;15(6):815-7. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200104130-00027.

Abstract

To determine effect of partner involvement and couple counseling on uptake of interventions to prevent HIV-1 transmission, women attending a Nairobi antenatal clinic were encouraged to return with partners for voluntary HIV-1 counseling and testing (VCT) and offered individual or couple posttest counseling. Nevirapine was provided to HIV-1-seropositive women and condoms distributed to all participants. Among 2104 women accepting testing, 308 (15%) had partners participate in VCT, of whom 116 (38%) were couple counseled. Thirty-two (10%) of 314 HIV-1-seropositive women came with partners for VCT; these women were 3-fold more likely to return for nevirapine (P = 0.02) and to report administering nevirapine at delivery (P = 0.009). Nevirapine use was reported by 88% of HIV-infected women who were couple counseled, 67% whose partners came but were not couple counseled, and 45% whose partners did not present for VCT (P for trend = 0.006). HIV-1-seropositive women receiving couple counseling were 5-fold more likely to avoid breast-feeding (P = 0.03) compared with those counseled individually. Partner notification of HIV-1-positive results was reported by 138 women (64%) and was associated with 4-fold greater likelihood of condom use (P = 0.004). Partner participation in VCT and couple counseling increased uptake of nevirapine and formula feeding. Antenatal couple counseling may be a useful strategy to promote HIV-1 prevention interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding*
  • Contact Tracing*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / transmission
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors