[HIV infection during pregnancy: the Sentinel Surveillance Project, Brazil, 2002]

To evaluate the actual coverage of HIV infection detection during pregnancy at national level.

The actual coverage of HIV testing during pregnancy was defined as the proportion of women who attended prenatal care visits (at least one visit), ordering HIV testing and knowledge of test result before delivery. The coverage was estimated by sampling procedures based on the 2002 Sentinel Surveillance Study data. Actual coverage Inequalities were assessed by: country regions; population size of the municipality where delivery took place; and mother's schooling.

The actual coverage of HIV testing during pregnancy was 52%. Huge sociogeographic inequalities are seen between the Northeastern (24%) and Southern regions (72%); illiterate mothers (19%) and those with complete basic education (64%); mothers who delivered in small municipalities (36%) and those who delivered in municipalities with more than 500,000 inhabitants (66%). Ministry of Health recommendations were fully followed by only 27% pregnant women.

The study results show a need for actions aiming at increasing HIV detection coverage during pregnancy, and indicate that HIV/STD programs should be intensified with joint strategies between the National AIDS Program and infant-maternal programs.