Administration of medications for children born exposed to human immune deficiency virus

Objective: To evaluate HIV-positive mothers' ability to administer zidovudine and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SMZ/TMP) prophylaxis for HIV-exposed infants. Methods: This cross-sectional and quantitative study was carried out at a reference hospital for HIV/AIDS patients in Fortaleza (CE), Brazil. A total of 60 mothers responded to the ability assessment scale for the care of HIV-exposed children. Results: The level of ability to administer zidovudine varied from moderate to high. Maternal variables did not show significant differences (p>0.05). TMP/SMZ administration varied from low, moderate, and high. The variable "parity" was related to a high level of care (p=0.051). Conclusion: The level of ability of mothers to administer AZT syrup (factor I) varied from moderate to high; with SMZ-TMP administration (factor IV), no difference among low, moderate, and high was seen.