SEROPREVALENCE OF HIV-INFECTION IN CHILDBEARING WOMEN IN NOVA-SCOTIA

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection in childbear ing women in Nova Scotia. Design: An anonymous, unlinked seroprevalenc e study using ''leftover'' cord bloods. The study was done in 2 stages : I-Halifax Co. women delivering between February 1, 1992 and December 31, 1993; II - non-Halifax Co. women delivering between November 15, 1993 and December 15, 1994. Results: Of 9,115 deliveries during stage I and 5,515 during stage II, specimens were tested 1 from 8,864 (97.2% ) and 5,219 (95%) respectively. Halifax Co. women were older, more oft en married and more often reported a STD than the non-Halifax Co. part icipants with 20% under age 20 reporting a history of STD. There was o ne EIA and WB positive result among Halifax Co. women (seroprevalence 1/10,000; 95% CI 0.03-6.29) and one EIA positive, WB indeterminant res ult among non-Halifax Co. women (seroprevalence 0/10,000; 95% CI 0-5.7 ). Conclusion: There is a low prevalence of HIV infection among Nova S cotia childbearing women. However, a substantial number, especially th ose < age 20, reported a history of STD.