Should HIV-negative women in a relationship with a sick person who wish to have a child take antivirals as a preventive measure? Yes, answers a new study carried out in Kenya and Uganda.
Researchers have studied the impact of antivirals on the pregnancy of women.
Scientists conducted clinical trials on 1,785 serodiscordant heterosexual couples (only men had AIDS). Antiviral treatment or a placebo were prescribed to women every month until they became pregnant.
Antivirals do not cause more risks
Among the pregnancies observed, 421 went to term. The results of the study reveal that the rates of aborted pregnancies or premature births are quite similar in the two groups. They were 34.5% in women treated with antivirals and 32.7% for women taking placebo.
“If this difference is not significant, we need to carry out further studies to analyze the longer-term effects of these treatments on women who want to get pregnant and on children,” the researchers concluded. This study echoes recent recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Antivirals in prevention for populations at risk
Indeed, the WHO published in July its news health recommendations on AIDS. It has to be said that the epidemic continues to explode. Gottfried Hirnschall, director of the HIV department at the organization told reporters that “men who have sex with men are strongly recommended to consider taking antiretrovirals as an additional method of preventing HIV”.