Objective: The objective of our study was to describe the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic among pregnant adolescents undergoing follow-up in a large inner-city hospital.
Study design: We conducted a case-control study comparing demographic and risk behaviors of seropositive and seronegative adolescents (aged 13 to 20) identified from a population undergoing routine voluntary antibody screening at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, between July 1987 and March 1991.
Results: Of 10,794 pregnant adolescents screened, 51 (4.7/1000) were infected with human immunodeficiency virus. More than one fourth of case patients were < or = 17 years old. Significantly more case patients than controls reported a history of crack cocaine use (10 [19.6%] vs 23 [8.2%] p < 0.05). A majority (58.8%) of case patients reported no risk factors for infection, and the remainder (41.2%) were presumably infected by heterosexual contact. Thirty-nine controls (13.8%) had self-identified risk factors for infection.
Conclusions: Pregnant adolescents in our center are at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection and should be targeted for human immunodeficiency virus education and risk reduction counseling.
PIP: This study sought to describe the HIV epidemic among pregnant adolescents undergoing follow up in a large inner city hospital. The authors conducted this case-control study which compared demographic and risk behaviors of seropositive and seronegative adolescents ages 13-20 who were identified from a population undergoing routine voluntary antibody screening at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia between July 1987 and March 1991. Of 10,794 pregnant adolescents screened, 51 (4.7/1000) were infected with HIV. More than 1/4 of the case patients were or= 17 years of age. Significantly more case patients than controls reported a history of crack cocaine use (10 [19.6%] vs. 23 [8.2%], p0.05). A majority (58.8%) of case patients reported no risk factors for infection, and the remainder (41.2%) were presumably infected by heterosexual contact. 39 controls (13.8%) had self-identified risk factors for infection. Pregnant adolescents in this center are at risk for HIV infection and should be targeted for HIV education and risk reduction counseling.