PURPOSE: to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of obstetricians from public maternities in Salvador city (PMS) about the recommendations from the Health Ministry (HM) for the prophylaxis of vertical transmission of HIV (VTH) and antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women. The influence of working conditions, availability for quick testing and antiretroviral therapy has also been evaluated concerning the application of these recommendations. METHODOLOGY: a transversal study from August to November 2005, involving 129/152 (85%) of the obstetricians from all the PMS. The instrument used was a structured and self-explanatory anonymous questionnaire, with questions on the population characteristics, working conditions and availability of material, knowledge and attitudes related to HIV counseling and testing, and proceedings with the patients (use of AZT, recognition of risk factors, choice and management of type of delivery and puerperal care). RESULTS: 69% of the obstetricians stated they knew integrally the HM recommendations, 90.7% agreed with the compulsory request of quick testing for HIV; 63.6% chose the caesarean section as the type of delivery; 38% were against normal delivery; 37.5% recommended isolation of positive serum patients and 58.1% indicated tubal ligation. Most of them (90%) mentioned the existence of factors unfavorable to the recommendations applicability, and among those factors, the most pointed were the inadequate way the pre-natal admission was done and the lack of information at that occasion. Even though the quick testing was available, only one third of the interviewees stated that the result was always available in due time. CONCLUSIONS: some attitudes related to the assistance to the pregnant women with HIV were incompatible with the HM recommendations. According to the interviewees, the inadequacy of the pre-natal plus the non-availability of quick testing, influence negatively the applicability of VTH prophylaxis recommendations.
PURPOSE: to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of obstetricians from public maternities in Salvador city (PMS) about the recommendations from the Health Ministry (HM) for the prophylaxis of vertical transmission of HIV (VTH) and antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women. The influence of working conditions, availability for quick testing and antiretroviral therapy has also been evaluated concerning the application of these recommendations. METHODOLOGY: a transversal study from August to November 2005, involving 129/152 (85%) of the obstetricians from all the PMS. The instrument used was a structured and self-explanatory anonymous questionnaire, with questions on the population characteristics, working conditions and availability of material, knowledge and attitudes related to HIV counseling and testing, and proceedings with the patients (use of AZT, recognition of risk factors, choice and management of type of delivery and puerperal care). RESULTS: 69% of the obstetricians stated they knew integrally the HM recommendations, 90.7% agreed with the compulsory request of quick testing for HIV; 63.6% chose the caesarean section as the type of delivery; 38% were against normal delivery; 37.5% recommended isolation of positive serum patients and 58.1% indicated tubal ligation. Most of them (90%) mentioned the existence of factors unfavorable to the recommendations applicability, and among those factors, the most pointed were the inadequate way the pre-natal admission was done and the lack of information at that occasion. Even though the quick testing was available, only one third of the interviewees stated that the result was always available in due time. CONCLUSIONS: some attitudes related to the assistance to the pregnant women with HIV were incompatible with the HM recommendations. According to the interviewees, the inadequacy of the pre-natal plus the non-availability of quick testing, influence negatively the applicability of VTH prophylaxis recommendations.