ACCEPTABILITY OF INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSIONOF HIV-1 IN WEST-AFRICA

Would HIV-1-positive pregnant African women use interventions of AIDS testing, medication (oral or vaginal), and vaginal disinfection to red uce the likelihood of HIV-1 transmission to their child? In this pilot study in two west African cities (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, and Bobo-Di oulasso, Burkina Faso), social workers gave a native-language question naire to 607 pregnant women at four Maternal and Child Health Centers. The women were asked about their perception of the HIV test; conseque nces of testing and counseling; choice of medical intervention to prot ect the future child and feelings about being in a randomized, placebo -controlled, clinical trial. Most accepted the principle of an AIDS te st, said they wanted the agreement of their regular partner before bei ng tested, and would use interventions to reduce the risk of vertical transmission. The researchers concluded that although concepts of info rmed consent, randomization, and placebo are difficult to understand, the study results are promising and encourage the evaluation of clinic al trials to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HTV-1 in Africa.