Women

Abstract

HIV+ South African women who achieved viral suppression during routine antenatal care, but later experienced a viremic episode (viral load>1000 copies/mL), were examined for presence of ARVs and classified as ‘non-adherers’ or ‘suboptimal adherers’. Women were tested for drug-resistance mutations (DRM) at several time points, and underwent viral load testing 36-60 months postpartum. Suboptimal adherers were more likely to have DRM detected at their viremic episode (p=0.03), and a subsequent viremic time point (p=0.05). There was no difference in levels of viral suppression 36-60 months later in women with DRM detected versus women who had no evidence of DRM (p=0.5).