No Reports of Wisconsin Infants With HIV in 2006

In 2006, there were no mother-to-child HIV transmissions (MTCTs) in Wisconsin, according to preliminary state Department of Health and Family Services records. Since 1985, there had been no MTCTs only in 1999 and 2004.

"We should be at zero births with HIV every year," and Wisconsin might be there if HIV testing of pregnant women were routine, said Dr. Peter Havens, medical director of the Wisconsin HIV Primary Care Support Network. The network operates from the Milwaukee's Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. With proper medical intervention, MTCT risk can be lowered from 25 percent to less than 2 percent.

From 1985 to 1994, 31 babies were infected with HIV in Wisconsin, according to Stephanie Marquis, spokesperson for the state Department of Health. With the advent of drug and other interventions to prevent MTCT, 22 babies acquired HIV from 1994 to 2005.

A Department of Health study last year found that about 68 percent of pregnant women are tested for HIV, varying from 85 percent in relatively high-prevalence Milwaukee County to about 60 percent in Dane County and rural areas. Syphilis, gonorrhea, and other STD tests are more routinely offered than HIV tests, said Dr. Gregory DeMuri, a University of Wisconsin Hospital pediatric specialist.

Wisconsin law requires separate written consent for HIV testing, meaning the state cannot implement CDC's recommendation for routine, voluntary, opt-out HIV screening of pregnant women. Doctors are urged to test but not all do. Some physicians are uncomfortable asking patients to test for a stigmatized disease, said Havens and DeMuri. Health insurance does cover the test, said Havens.

Wisconsin health officials are considering requiring hospitals have HIV test results in pregnant patients' medical charts before delivery, as Illinois does, said Havens.

Back to other news for January 11, 2007