Disparities in Rates and Trends of HIV/AIDS During Pregnancy Across the Decade, 1998-2007

Objective: To examine trends in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates among pregnant women over the previous decade and across subpopulations in the state of Florida. Methods: We analyzed all Florida births from 1998 to 2007 (n = 1,700,734) using hospital discharge data linked to birth certificate records. Results: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in pregnancy decreased from 298 per 100,000 births to 252 per 100,000 births (P for trend <0.04), representing a 15% decrease from 1998 to 2007. Hispanic mothers had twice the rate of HIV/AIDS compared with white mothers (adjusted rate ratio = 2.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.9 to 2.5), whereas black mothers had about 11 times the rate of white mothers (adjusted rate ratio = 10.8; 95% confidence interval = 9.8 to 12.0). The rate of HIV/AIDS coinfections in pregnancy increased 88.8% (P for trend = <0.0001) among hepatitis B-positive women and 635% (P for trend = <0.0001) among hepatitis C-positive women. Conclusions: Although HIV/AIDS rates in pregnancy have decreased, black and Hispanic mothers and those infected with hepatitis B and C still have disproportionately high rates of HIV/AIDS. Our findings serve as a call for increased and intensified HIV/AIDS prevention interventions among minority women of childbearing age and those at risk for hepatitis B and C infections.