Neverapine Drug Regimen Investigation on HIV Mother to Child Transmission in Warangal (A.P.), India

All over India out of about 28 million deliveries occur annually, 84,000 deliveries occur in HIV positive woman. Out of these 30-45% babies is getting infected by HIV. In states like Andhra Pradesh HIV prevalence is more than 1%. In Andhra Pradesh so far HIV has infected 4 lakh people. The most prevalent district in A.P. is Warangal. According to 2002 Ante natal clinic cases highest positive infection rate is 6.75%, STD clinic 40.40% .The great majority (90%) of HIV positive children acquired the virus from their mother. Reduction of mother to child transmission is therefore very important in India.Pregnant women from rural and urban areas visit Govt Maternity hospitals in Warangal and Hanamkonda for regular check up from 3rd month till delivery. When they visit, with their informed consent they would be screened for HIV antibody in the hospital settings. Out of total 287 HIV +ve women, 166 were pregnant women. 145 pregnant mothers were orally given nevirapine 200mg at the on set of labour and the new born babies were given 2mg/kg Neverpine syrup within 72 hours after delivery. 21 of the pregnant woman 16, 20, 28, week gestational age undergone medical termination of pregnancy. 60 of the nevirapine treated mothers and their babies came to the follow up. Follow-up mothers and their babies screened for HIV antibody in their blood, 18 babies are HIV antibody negative, 42 babies are HIV antibody positive out of this 15 Babies died due to unknown reason. Present studies show that in nevirapine drug treated HIV mother to child cases the Transmission reduction rate is 11% or above in Warangal, AP, .Long term study on reducing vertical transmission of HIV infection is necessary. International and National organizations and NGOs should provide free baby food for sero negative infants born to HIV + mothers. Present study strongly suggests that the role of humoral and cellular responses provided through a breast milk is required to be investigated.