Private MD News

HIV-positive girls are more likely to become pregnant

Category: HIV

Young women who have received positive HIV tests may be more likely to be given other bad news concerning their sexual health. A new study from Johns Hopkins University researchers has found that these individuals are also more likely to become pregnant and suffer birth complications.

The researchers said that their findings show that young females who have contracted the infection remain likely to engage in risky sexual activity, despite the disease. They arrived at this conclusion after examining the records of 181 HIV-positive girls and young women between the ages of 13 and 24.

The team found that teens who acquired the infection through sexual behavior (rather than at birth) were five times more likely to become pregnant than HIV-negative teens. Additionally, these girls were more likely to deliver a premature baby, which puts both the mother and child at risk for complications.

"Our analysis revealed a problem," said Allison Agwu, who led the investigation. "Now we need to figure out why that is and how we, as providers, can give appropriate counseling and care to these girls and women."