Effect of pregnancy and the postpartum period on adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected women established on treatment

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015 Apr 1;68(4):477-80. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000501.

Abstract

: Among women who become pregnant after initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), few data describe the effect of pregnancy and postpartum on adherence. We conducted a retrospective clinical cohort study among therapy-naive women (age, 18-45 years) initiating HAART in Johannesburg, South Africa. Among 7510 women in our analysis, 896 experienced a pregnancy after starting HAART. Compared with nonpregnant periods of follow-up, there was an increased risk of nonadherence during the postpartum period (weighted risk ratio: 1.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.17 to 1.82) but not during pregnancy itself (weighted risk ratio: 0.95, 95% confidence interval: 0.78 to 1.17).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / methods*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Medication Adherence*
  • Middle Aged
  • Postpartum Period*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • South Africa
  • Young Adult