Sociodemographic Factors and Viral Load Profiles of Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Abidjan: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background: Mother-to-child transmission is a public health problem. Preventing this situation suggests qualitative therapeutic management of pregnant women carrying the virus. Furthermore, factors inherent to women could impact the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. This study, conducted between 2016 and 2021, focuses on HIV-positive pregnant women who were monitored during their pregnancy in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services of three health. Objectives: To examine the sociodemographic factors associated with the viral load of pregnant women living with HIV monitored in three health centers. Type of Study: Retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study. Methods: The socio-demographic data of pregnant women with HIV were classified according to their viral load and compared using the standard chi-square test and Fisher's exact test in SPSS version 25 software and the significance threshold was set at 5%. Results: 420 pregnant women with HIV were included in this study. 51.7% of women had a viral load below 50 copies/ml, 45.2% of them had a viral load between 50 and 400 copies/ml and 3.1% of them had a viral load above 400 copies/ml. Among the women whose viral load was detectable, several were young people aged between 18-35 years, single and not in school. These women housewife and Shopkeeper and statistical analyses showed a correlation between viral load and the profession of the patients with a value of p = 0.019. Conclusion: This study reveals the importance of sociodemographic factors in the therapeutic management of pregnant women with HIV. A clear understanding of the profile of women followed in mother-child prevention services would help to achieve satisfactory results with antiretroviral treatment.