AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #385 - Early teen pregnancy increases risk of incident HIV infection: results from a longitudinal study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Presenting Author: Ms Nicola Christofides - University of Witwatersrand
Additional Authors: Prof Rachel Jewkes,
Aim: We assessed whether teenage pregnancy (before 16 years and 16 years to 19 years) increases risk of incident HIV infection in South African women.
Method / Issue: We did a longitudinal analysis of data from a previously published cluster-randomised controlled trial undertaken in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in 2002–06. 1014 women aged 15–26 years who were HIV negative at baseline and had at least one additional HIV test over 2 years of follow-up were included in the analysis. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of HIV acquisition at 2 years were derived from Poisson models, adjusted for study design, age, education, time since first sex, socio-economic status and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection.
Results / Comments: 128 women acquired HIV during 2076 person-years of follow-up (incidence 6•2 per 100 person-years). 31 first pregnancies occurred at 15 years of age or younger; while 233 pregnancies occurred between the ages of 16 and 19 years. Adjusted multivariable Poisson model IRR for 2.53 (95% CI 1.27-5.05) for a pregnancy occurring at 15 years or younger of subsequently acquiring HIV. Adolescent pregnancies occurring between 16 and 19 years of age did not significantly increase the risk of acquiring HIV (IRR 0.90; 95% CI 0.58-1.40).
Discussion: Behavioral interventions that address adolescent sexual risk behavior are common. This study found that having a pregnancy in early adolescence increases the risk of subsequent HIV infection. Interventions need renewed focus on preventing early teenage pregnancies in order to prevent subsequent HIV infection.
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