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Vertical transmission can be prevented by HIV testing of pregnant women and, for those found to be infected, effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). In well-resourced settings, HIV infection in infants reflects missed prevention opportunities. To identify maternal, perinatal, and neonatal risk factors associated with vertical transmission in Georgia, researchers reviewed the records of all HIV-infected infants who were born between 2005 and 2012 and seen at the only pediatric HIV specialty clinic in Atlanta (N=27).
The HIV-infected infants had a mean gestational age of 37 weeks; 59% were male. Most of the mothers were black (89%) and aged 16 to 30 (63%); only 44% had received prenatal care. Of the 20 mothers (74%) who had been aware of their…