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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Laurie D. Ayala, MPH, Perinatal Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 333 East Superior St., Suite 1081, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-926-0977, layala@nmh.org, Patricia Garcia, MD, MPH, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology/Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Northwestern University, 333 East Superior St., Suite 410, Chicago, IL 60611, Anne Statton, BA, Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 154, Chicago, IL 60614, and Joanna Cuden, MSW, LCSW, Department of Case Management, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 North St. Clair, Suite 730, Chicago, IL 60611.

Issues: Efforts to reduce perinatal HIV transmission are limited by: evolving treatment guidelines, inexperienced medical providers, and disenfranchised women unable to link to care. In 2003, Illinois passed the Perinatal HIV Prevention Act requiring hospitals to offer rapid HIV tests to HIV-undocumented laboring women. Description: The 24/7 Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline was established to provide: real-time HIV medical consultation to perinatal care providers, social service consultation for immediate linkage of positive pregnant women to care, and support for and follow-up of rapid HIV testing done in L&D units. Lessons Learned: During 2004-2005, the primary reasons for real-time calls to the Hotline were linkage to care (59%), medical consultation (46%), reports of preliminary positive rapid tests (32%), and general HIV information requests (24%). Forty-five cases of pregnant positive women unlinked to care were identified of which 84% (38) were linked to care and 51% (23) required enhanced case management to establish care. Real-time reporting to the Hotline enabled 21 women to be case-managed compared to 2 women reported via retrospective reports. Of the 26 rapidly diagnosed women in the L&D setting, the Hotline provided medical consultation for 37% and assisted with linkage to care for 65%. Recommendations: A statewide 24/7 hotline is an essential element of the safety net of perinatal HIV prevention in Illinois. It enables real-time reporting of rapidly tested and already diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women. This provides a unique opportunity for surveillance and reporting as well as immediate medical consultation and linkage to HIV/OB care and social services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the key elements of a statewide perinatal HIV hotline and its role in a safety net of prevention.
• Identify strategies to reduce perinatal HIV transmission.
• Define steps to develop a public/private partnership to benefit women and children.

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Perinatal Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation