[Profile of HIV-positive women hospitalized in a public maternity ward in Rio de Janeiro]

AIDS has been scaring the world population for the last decades. The writers of this article decided to investigate and research into the high incidente of women HIV+ hospitalized in a public maternity in the district of Rio de Janeiro, showing the profile of pregnant women from 1987 to 1996. After a thorough analysis of a total of 102 cases this number was eventually broken down showing that the majority of the female population are single, between the ages of 19 and 33 years, have low schooling, mainly housewives and were sexually contaminated. The results show that the affected groups lack the knowledge as to how they could protect themselves against contamination. It is, therefore, of vital importance to take the necessary measures to help prevent contamination and to focus on health education.