Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 09:43:08 +0500
From: ghmcleaf{CONTRACTOR/ASPEN/ghmcleaf}%NAC-GATEWAY.ASPEN@ace.aspensys.com
Subject: CDC Press Release


P R E S S    R E L E A S E
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CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
National Center for Prevention Services
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention


Talking Points on the Survey of Childbearing Women


*    CDC recently issued recommendations for Pneumocystis carinii
     pneumonia PCP prophylaxis for infants with perinatally
     acquired HIV and other infected children.  In addition, CDC
     will soon issue the final version of its guidelines for
     routine HIV counseling and voluntary testing for pregnant
     women.  Both these guidelines emphasize the importance of
     knowing the mother's and infant's HIV status as early as
     possible to reduce perinatal transmission of HIV and, for
     those children who are infected, to reduce the incidence of
     PCP.

*    The Survey of Childbearing Women, conducted in 45 states as
     well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the
     Virgin Islands, has been under intense scrutiny lately and
     has been the subject of proposed state and federal
     legislation.

*    At the request of Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Phil
     Lee, at a congressional hearing in Washington, DC, on May
     11, 1995, Dr. Helene Gayle made the announcement that Dr.
     Lee is asking all states to suspend the Survey of
     Childbearing Women until CDC has completed a consultative
     process with the states, CDC's Advisory Committee for the
     Prevention of HIV Infection, and other interested parties.

*    A letter was sent on May 11, 1995, from Dr. Lee to all state
     health officers with this request.

*    For purposes of implementing Dr. Lee's request, CDC is
     defining suspension as the cessation of ELISA testing.
     After May 12, 1995, and while this review process is taking
     place, states have been asked to suspend the ELISA testing
     of specimens collected for the survey.  Areas could continue
     all survey steps up to the pont of ELISA testing.  Support
     for the costs associated with the collection of the
     specimens and other administrative costs will not at this
     time be affected by the decision.

*    Within the next few weeks, CDC will begin this consultative
     process.  Assisted by external experts, CDC will consider
     the advisability and feasibility of developing appropriate
     surveillance mechanisms in the context of implementing the
     CDC guidelines for routine prenatal HIV counseling and
     voluntary testing for pregnant women and PCP prophylaxis for
     perinatally exposed infants and other children.

*    CDC will ask for participation from public health officials,
     private providers, medical and ethics experts, providers
     caring for women and children with HIV disease, and those
     infected and affected by HIV.

*    CDC will seek advice on a plan to:
     1.   Ensure that all pregnant women are offered HIV
          counseling and testing and that, if infected, they and
          their children are entered into a continuum of medical
          and support services.
     2.   Fully evaluate the implementation of the effectiveness
          of the CDC guidelines for counseling and testing for
          pregnant women and PCP prophylaxis for infants and
          children.
     3.   Continue to monitor trends in HIV infection among women
          and children.
     4.   Assess the advisability and feasibility of developing
          appropriate surveillance mechanisms for these purposes.

*    This consultative process can provide a strong foundation
     for determining how best to achieve these goals, to prevent
     the spread of HIV and to monitor the effectiveness of our
     efforts.