Voluntary pregnancy termination among women with HIV in the HAART era (2002–2008): a case series from a national study

Abstract

There is limited information about the determinants of voluntary pregnancy termination (VPT) among women with HIV in the current context of wide access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). To investigate this issue, we analysed the characteristics of a series of VPTs which occurred in an ongoing observational national study of pregnant women with HIV between 2002 and 2008. Sixty-three cases of VPT were compared with 334 pregnancies not ending in a VPT concurrently reported from the same centres. VPTs showed significant associations with unplanned pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]: 24.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.8–101.2), previous pregnancies reported to the study (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.30–4.82), lower CD4 counts (270 vs. 420 cells/mm³), and HIV-infected current partner (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 0.97–3.63).

Our data indicate that there is still the need to improve pregnancy planning among women with HIV, and strongly suggest that interventions aimed at improving pregnancy planning might also reduce the occurrence of VPT. Women with low CD4 counts and those with an HIV-infected partner represent two groups that should receive particular attention in preventive strategies.

Keywords:

• HIV
• pregnancy
• abortion
• pregnancy termination
• women

Acknowledgements

We thank Cosimo Polizzi and Alessandra Mattei for providing technical secretarial for this study, Tonino Sofia for providing comments and helping in the revision of the final manuscript, Carmela Pinnetti for comments on the manuscript and for her precious help in data retrieval, and all the women who participated in this study.

The Italian Group on Surveillance on Antiretroviral Treatment in Pregnancy:

Project coordinators: M. Floridia, M. Ravizza, E. Tamburrini.

Participants: M. Ravizza, E. Tamburrini, P. Ortolani, F. Mori, C. Monticelli, E.R. dalle Nogare, G. Sterrantino, M. Meli, S. Polemi, J. Nocentini, M. Baldini, G. Montorzi, M. Mazzetti, B. Borchi, F. Vichi, E. Pinter, E. Anzalone, V.S. Mercurio, A. Carocci, E. Grilli, A. Maccabruni, B. Mariani, A. Moretti, G. Natalini, G. Guaraldi, K. Luzi, G. Nardini, A. Zoncada, A. Degli Antoni, A. Molinari, P. Rogasi, M.P. Crisalli, A. Donisi, M. Piepoli, V. Cerri, E. Chiesa, A. Lupo, D. Repetto, A. Viganò, V. Giacomet, V. Fabiano, S. Stucchi, C. Cerini, G. Placido, M. Dalessandro, A. Vivarelli, P. Castelli, F. Savalli, V. Portelli, S. Alberico, C. Businelli, A. Meloni, D. Gariel, C. Cuboni, F. Ortu, P. Piano, A. Citernesi, I. Vicini, E. Periti, A. Spinillo, M. Roccio, A. Vimercati, B. Guerra, E. Tridapalli, G. Brighi, M. Stella, G. Faldella, S. Vagnoni, I. Strada, C. Puccetti, M. Sansone, P. Martinelli, C. Tibaldi, L. Trentini, S. Marini, G. Masuelli, L. Di Lenardo, I. Cetin, M.L. Muggiasca, V. Conserva, T. Brambilla, E. Ferrazzi, C. Giaquinto, M. Fiscon, R. Rinaldi, E. Rubino, A. Bucceri, R. Matrone, G. Scaravelli, G. Anzidei, S. Di Giambenedetto, C. Fundarò, O. Genovese, C. Cafforio, C. Pinnetti, G. Liuzzi, V. Tozzi, P. Massetti, M. Anceschi, A.M. Casadei, F. Montella, A.F. Cavaliere, V. Finelli, C. Riva, L. Lazier, M. Cellini, S. Garetto, G. Castelli Gattinara, A.M. Marconi, M. Ierardi, S. Foina, B. Salerio, S. Dalzero, M. Oneta, C. Polizzi, A. Mattei, M.F. Pirillo, R. Amici, C.M. Galluzzo, S. Donnini, S. Baroncelli, M. Floridia.

Pharmacokinetics: M. Regazzi, P. Villani, M. Cusato.

Advisory Board: A. Cerioli, M. De Martino, P. Mastroiacovo, M. Moroni, F. Parazzini, E. Tamburrini, S. Vella.

SIGO-HIV Group National Coordinators: E. Ferrazzi, P. Martinelli.

Financial support: Public grants 39C/A, 31D55, 31D56 from the Italian National Program on Research on AIDS.