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[Epidemiological study of 200 HIV infected pregnant women]
R Henrion1, E Henrion-Géant, C du Mazaubrun
1Clinique Universitaire Port-Royal, Paris.
Demographic characteristics and lifestyle were studied among 200 HIV-seropositive women followed in a tertiary care obstetrics/gynecology center in Paris. Between 1985 and 1989, a detailed questionnaire was run by a specialized midwife. The study group, mostly comprised of pregnant women, was compared with the women delivering in the department and with the overall French pregnant population. The women's partners were also studied. There appeared to be a core group of women who are young, single, often unemployed, marginalized members of foreign-born minorities, heavy smokers, and past or present intravenous drug users. Among their partners, drug use was frequent; over half were born in sub-Saharan Africa or North Africa and one third were unemployed. Among women having a job, white collar employees and service workers were over represented, whereas blue collar workers were under represented. The epidemiological profile of HIV-infected women appears to be very different from that of the largely homosexual male population in France. These women are younger and often less intellectual, poorer, more socially marginalized and less receptive to campaigns for prevention. However, the majority of our patients are married or live maritally, work and do not (presently) use drugs.
Demographic characteristics and lifestyle were studied among 200 HIV-seropositive women followed in a tertiary care obstetrics/gynecology center in Paris. Between 1985 and 1989, a detailed questionnaire was run by a specialized midwife. The study group, mostly comprised of pregnant women, was compared with the women delivering in the department and with the overall French pregnant population. The women's partners were also studied. There appeared to be a core group of women who are young, single, often unemployed, marginalized members of foreign-born minorities, heavy smokers, and past or present intravenous drug users. Among their partners, drug use was frequent; over half were born in sub-Saharan Africa or North Africa and one third were unemployed. Among women having a job, white collar employees and service workers were over represented, whereas blue collar workers were under represented. The epidemiological profile of HIV-infected women appears to be very different from that of the largely homosexual male population in France. These women are younger and often less intellectual, poorer, more socially marginalized and less receptive to campaigns for prevention. However, the majority of our patients are married or live maritally, work and do not (presently) use drugs.