Factors Associated with Receiving Late HIV Testing Among Women Delivering at Hung Vuong Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2014.

HIV testing during pregnancy facilitates timely antiretroviral treatment for HIV-positive women. This study identifies reasons for late HIV testing among pregnant women delivering at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. We conducted a case-control study in which 160 cases were women who were tested for HIV late (i.e., at labor and delivery) and 160 controls were women who were tested during antenatal care (ANC). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, six variables were associated with late HIV testing: age less than 30 years, nine or fewer years of education, working as a homemaker or worker/farmer, living 20 km or more from the hospital, having received ANC at a private clinic/hospital only, and not believing that HIV testing is important during pregnancy. We recommend that national programs should provide additional effort for HIV testing during pregnancy to young women, less educated women, homemakers, and those receiving ANC at private clinics and hospitals.

Population-based assessment of Mycoplasma genitalium in Vietnam--low prevalence among married women of reproductive age in a rural area.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium infection in a population-based study among married women from a demographic surveillance site in a rural geographical area of Vietnam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women, aged 18-49 years, were randomly selected to participate. DNA was isolated from endocervical swabs sampled from 990 participating women. The M. genitalium MgPa adhesion gene was detected using a real-time polymerase chain reaction with TaqMan probe. RESULTS: Eight (0.8%; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-1.35%) of the included women were infected with M. genitalium. Two of these positive women reported clinical symptoms. One additional M. genitalium-positive but symptom-free woman, however, showed clinical signs of vaginitis. None of the M. genitalium-positive women was concomitantly infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Furthermore, there was no obvious association between M. genitalium infection and vaginal douching, use of intrauterine device, or occurrence of bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, or Trichomonas vaginalis. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of M. genitalium among married women in Vietnam was relatively low. However, more large, well-designed and appropriately performed studies in other population groups including unmarried women and men, and in other geographical areas, rural as well as urban, are crucial in order to extract any evidence-based conclusions regarding the overall prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including M. genitalium infections, in the Vietnamese society. The present study compiled with such future studies may form the basis for a national sexual health strategy for prevention, diagnosis, and surveillance of STIs, including M. genitalium infections, in Vietnam.

Return of ovulation following a single injection of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate: a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study.

The effect of a single dose of 150 mg of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on pituitary, ovarian and endometrial function was assessed in relation to the peripheral levels of the compound in 8 women. The levels of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), follitropin (FSH), lutropin (LH), prolactin, estradiol (E2) and progesterone ( Prog .) were measured 3 times a week during a pretreatment (control) cycle and then daily during postinjection weeks 14-17, 22-25 and 30-33. An endometrial biopsy specimen was obtained during postinjection weeks 17, 25 and 33. In three out of 8 subjects the daily hormone assays carried out during postinjection weeks 30-33 indicated anovulatory periods; in these subjects peripheral blood was drawn daily during postinjection weeks 46-49 and a fourth endometrial biopsy was taken during week 49.

PIP: The effect of a single dose of 150 mg depomedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on pituitary, ovarian, and endometrial function was assessed in relation to the peripheral levels of the compound in 8 women. The levels of DMPA, follitropin (FSH), lutropin (LH), prolactin, estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P) were measured 3 times/week during a pretreatment (control) cycle and then daily during postinjection weeks 14-17, 22-25, and 30-33. An endometrial biopsy specimen was obtained during postinjection weeks 17, 25, and 33. In 3 of 8 subjects the daily hormone assays carried out during postinjection weeks 30-33 indicated anovulatory periods; in these subjects, peripheral blood was drawn daily during postinjection weeks 46-49 and a 4th endometrial biopsy was taken during week 49. Plasma DMPA levels during the 14th postinjection week varied between 0.90 and 2.24 nmol/1, declined gradually, and became undetectable between weeks 17-24 (4 cases) or some time after week 33 (the other 4 cases). No correlation was found between the time when DMPA levels became undetectable and the obesity index.