OBJECTIVES: to analyze the implementation of the Nascer Maternidades Project protocol, a guideline from the Brazilian Ministry of Health for prophylactic/therapeutic measures on delivery for pregnant women whose serological status vis-à-vis syphilis/HIV was unknown in the first year of implementation, at Maternity Hospital Referral Centre in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: the women's serum was analyzed for HIV and syphilis, as requested during prenatal sessions or at the maternity hospital, and prophylactic and/or therapeutic measures were adopted. Data were obtained from 337 randomized medical records of pregnant women admitted to obstetric care between July 2003 and July 2004. RESULTS: during the prenatal follow-up, 8.4% and 8.0% of the pregnant women were tested for HIV and syphilis, respectively. On delivery, HIV rapid test was performed to 17.7% and VDRL to 97.8%. Prophylactic measures for HIV were taken on delivery in the case of HIV-infected women. Eighty percent of the VDRL positive women were not treated for syphilis, although all their newborns were treated. CONCLUSIONS: the "Nascer Maternidades Project" guidelines were ineffective during the first year of implementation at the maternity hospital under study.
HIV; Syphilis; Pregnancy; Disease transmission; vertical
