15th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association 1-3 April 2009, Liverpool, UK

DO WE KNOW THE HIV STATUS OF OUR PATIENTS’ CHILDREN AT OUR ADULT HIV UNIT?

HIV Med 2009 Apr 1-3 (Suppl 1);15:8 (abstract no. O12)

US Asghar, F Young, A Croucher and C Wood
North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK

BACKGROUND: An untested HIV positive child died as a result of HIV related complications. Both parents were patients at a HIV unit and hence this death in hindsight could have been prevented had the child been tested. The aim of this audit was to evaluate how accurate the information stored within our computer database and notes are about the HIV status of our patients children and, to identify high risk children who are still untested.

METHODS: We audited 542 cases, 282 females and 260 males, using the computer database Climate and clinical notes. The questions asked were: How many children does the patient have below the age of 18 years? Has the child been tested for HIV and do we know the result? If there was a cause for concern or lack of data, that case was classified as open.

RESULTS: There were 248 (47.5%) open cases. 125 children have not been tested for HIV. 56 of the untested children belong to HIV positive mothers. 28 children belong to fathers with HIV positive partners. In 10% of the audited cases there was no documentation of whether that patient is a parent.

CONCLUSIONS: Unfortunately we do not know the HIV status of our patients children and are not protecting them if, their parents decline child testing. Those at greatest risk are children whose mothers are HIV positive yet they remain untested because the majority of these children were born outside the UK. The next at risk group are, children of HIV positive fathers with positive partners. The system has already failed if we don’t know the child exists. This audit confirms fears that if practise is not changed, further children may potentially die because they were not diagnosed early enough. As a result, our department is now counselling families with untested children and new local guidelines have been implemented. These should be made nationwide. Adult units need to share responsibilities and be prepared to challenge patients if they decline child testing.

2009-04-01
O12

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