# HIV infection during pregnancy in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2021-2023

## TL;DR

This study examines HIV infection rates and maternal outcomes in pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2021 to 2023, highlighting gaps in prenatal care and treatment.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into HIV prevalence and management in pregnant women, comparing public and private healthcare systems in Rio de Janeiro.

## Key findings

- The prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women was estimated at 0.79%.
- Only 40% of HIV-positive women had documented antiretroviral treatment in their pregnancy records.
- Publicly funded women showed lower prenatal care coverage and HIV testing rates compared to privately funded women.

## Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women; analyze the gestational and maternal outcomes of women with HIV; and evaluate process indicators for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV according to type of financing for hospital admission in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ).

cross-sectional study with 1,923 women, conducted between 2021-2023. Interviews were carried out with women, and data was extracted from the pregnancy booklet and hospital records. The prevalence of HIV infection, gestational and maternal outcomes, and the adequacy of process indicators for the management of HIV infection were estimated with respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) according to the type of financing — public or private — for hospital admission for childbirth or abortion.

Coverage of prenatal care (PNC), HIV testing during PNC (one and two tests), and testing during hospital admission was 93.7, 79.7, 45.8, and 79.2%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV infection was estimated at 0.79% (95%CI 0.31–1.99). Only 40% of women with HIV had registered antiretroviral treatment and 26% had registered viral load tests in their pregnancy booklet. Women with public funding were more socially vulnerable and had less coverage of PNC and testing with two tests.

Missed opportunities were identified in the management of pregnant women with HIV in public and private services in RJ. The detection rate was higher than that of the Notifiable Diseases Information System and suggests underreporting of cases.

Estimar a prevalência de infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) em gestantes; analisar os desfechos gestacionais e maternos das mulheres com HIV; e avaliar indicadores de processo para prevenção da transmissão vertical do HIV segundo tipo de financiamento da internação hospitalar no estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Estudo seccional, com 1.923 mulheres, realizado no período 2021–2023. Foram realizadas entrevistas com mulheres e extraídos dados da caderneta da gestante e de prontuários hospitalares. Foi estimada a prevalência de infecção pelo HIV, dos desfechos gestacionais e maternos e da adequação de indicadores de processo do manejo do HIV com respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) segundo tipo de financiamento (público ou privado) da internação hospitalar para parto ou abortamento.

Cobertura de assistência pré-natal, de realização de um e dois testes de HIV no pré-natal e de testagem na internação hospitalar de 93,7, 79,7, 45,8 e 78,2%, respectivamente. A prevalência de infecção pelo HIV foi estimada em 0,79% (IC95% 0,31–1,99). Apenas 40% das mulheres com HIV apresentavam registro de tratamento antirretroviral e 26% registro de exame de carga viral na caderneta da gestante. Mulheres com internação hospitalar com financiamento público eram mais vulneráveis socialmente e apresentaram menor cobertura de assistência pré-natal e de testagem com dois testes anti-HIV.

Foram identificadas oportunidades perdidas no manejo das gestantes com HIV em internações com financiamento público e privado no Rio de Janeiro. A taxa de detecção foi superior à do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação e sugere subnotificação de casos.