ARV Use During Pregnancy

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV can be prevented by use of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) during pregnancy. However, despite the wide availability of such drugs — and perinatal treatment guidelines to assist clinicians in the care of HIV-infected pregnant women — MTCT rates in the U.S. remain around 2%.

To determine trends in ARV use in a Medicaid pregnancy cohort, investigators analyzed data for 2000 to 2007 on pregnant HIV-infected women who were continuously enrolled in Medicaid from ≥3 months before the last menstrual period (LMP) through delivery. Information on medical comorbidities and demographics was extracted from Medicaid inpatient and outpatient files. The proportion of HIV-infected women who were dispensed ARVs at least …