Barriers to control syphilis and HIV vertical transmission in the health care system in the city of Sao Paulo / Entraves no controle da transmissão vertical da sífilis e do HIV no sistema de atenção à saúde do município de São Paulo

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify possible barriers to control vertical transmission of syphilis and HIV through the analysis of the orientation process of pregnant women from prenatal care to the obstetric center at an university hospital in Sao Paulo (Reference) and their return (with their exposed babies) for follow-up after hospital discharge (counter-reference). METHODS: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study including interviews with healthcare personnel. Pregnant women with syphilis and/or HIV-infection admitted for labor or miscarriage were identified from August 2006 to August 2007. Routine care for mothers and babies were analyzed. RESULTS: 56 pregnant women were identified: 43 were HIV-infected, 11 had syphilis and two were coinfected (syphilis/HIV); 22 health care professionals were interviewed. Prenatal care was identified in 91.1% of these women: 7/11 (63.6%) with syphilis; 44/45 (97.8%) HIV-infected or coinfected. The reference for delivery was satisfactory for 57.7% of the syphilis-infected women and 97.7% of the HIV-infected ones. The counter-reference was satisfactory for all babies and mothers at hospital discharge, besides the non-adherence to this recommendation. Interviews with health care professionals showed there are better routines for assisting and following-up pregnant women, puerperal women and HIV-infected or exposed babies than for those infected with syphilis. The epidemiological report and surveillance system are also better for HIV-infected patients. CONCLUSION: The difficulties in the reference and counter-reference system of these women and their babies are evident barriers to control the vertical transmission of these infectious diseases. .

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar possíveis entraves ao controle da transmissão vertical da sífilis e HIV através da análise do processo de encaminhamento das gestantes desde os serviços de atendimento pré-natal até o Centro Obstétrico de um hospital universitário, no município de São Paulo (referência), e seu retorno, com seus bebês expostos, após alta hospitalar, para acompanhamento (contrarreferência). MÉTODO: Estudo de corte transversal, retrospectivo, acrescido de entrevistas com profissionais de saúde. Gestantes com sífilis e/ou infecção pelo HIV foram identificadas na admissão para o parto de agosto de 2006 a agosto de 2007. A rotina e o fluxo dos encaminhamentos de mães e recém-nascidos foram analisados. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas 56 gestantes infectadas: 43 com infecção pelo HIV, 11 com sífilis e duas coinfectadas (sífilis/HIV); 22 profissionais de saúde foram entrevistados. Acompanhamento pré-natal foi feito por 91,1% das mulheres: 7/11 (63,6%) com sífilis; 44/45 (97,8%) infectadas pelo HIV ou coinfectadas. A referência para o parto foi adequada para 57,1% das gestantes com sífilis e 97,7% daquelas infectadas pelo HIV. A contrarreferência foi adequada para todas as gestantes, apesar da não aderência a essa recomendação. Entrevistas com os profissionais de saúde revelaram que as rotinas e o fluxo de encaminhamento das gestantes, puérperas e recém-nascidos estão mais bem estabelecidos para HIV do que para sífilis. A vigilância epidemiológica e notificação também foram mais eficazes para o HIV. CONCLUSÃO: As dificuldades no sistema de referência e contrarreferência dessas mulheres e seus bebês são evidentes entraves ao controle da t...

Barriers to control syphilis and HIV vertical transmission in the health care system in the city of Sao Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify possible barriers to control vertical transmission of syphilis and HIV through the analysis of the orientation process of pregnant women from prenatal care to the obstetric center at an university hospital in Sao Paulo (Reference) and their return (with their exposed babies) for follow-up after hospital discharge (counter-reference). METHODS: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study including interviews with healthcare personnel. Pregnant women with syphilis and/or HIV-infection admitted for labor or miscarriage were identified from August 2006 to August 2007. Routine care for mothers and babies were analyzed. RESULTS: 56 pregnant women were identified: 43 were HIV-infected, 11 had syphilis and two were coinfected (syphilis/HIV); 22 health care professionals were interviewed. Prenatal care was identified in 91.1% of these women: 7/11 (63.6%) with syphilis; 44/45 (97.8%) HIV-infected or coinfected. The reference for delivery was satisfactory for 57.7% of the syphilis-infected women and 97.7% of the HIV-infected ones. The counter-reference was satisfactory for all babies and mothers at hospital discharge, besides the non-adherence to this recommendation. Interviews with health care professionals showed there are better routines for assisting and following-up pregnant women, puerperal women and HIV-infected or exposed babies than for those infected with syphilis. The epidemiological report and surveillance system are also better for HIV-infected patients. CONCLUSION: The difficulties in the reference and counter-reference system of these women and their babies are evident barriers to control the vertical transmission of these infectious diseases.