Female Intravenous Drug Users and Perinatal HIV Transmission

Abstract

To the Editor: Case reports of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in children and studies of the seroprevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among parturient women^{1 , 2} strongly implicate perinatal transmission as the primary route of HIV infection in children. A recurring theme in epidemiologic discussions of perinatal HIV is the inextricable role of intravenous drug use in the mothers of HIV-infected children. This is especially so for nonwhite women. Yet very little is known about the health needs of women who use intravenous drugs. The success of intervention efforts in a population of women at high risk of HIV . . .