The DOVE Clinic in the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin was established to meet the specific needs of pregnant women who have, or are at risk of, blood-borne or sexually transmitted bacterial or viral infections in pregnancy. Exposure may also occur through illicit drug use. Figures from the clinic for 2016 were published in the hospital’s annual report in 2017.1

The number of women admitted to the DOVE Clinic for antenatal care for the years 2006–2016 by diagnosis is shown in Figure 1. During 2016, some 201 women booked into the DOVE Clinic for antenatal care. Of these: 

• 27 (13%) were positive for HIV, an increase of 13% compared to 2015.
• 58 (29%) were positive for hepatitis B (HBV) surface antigen, representing a decrease of 11% compared to 2015.
• 40 (20%) were positive for hepatitis C (HCV) antibody, a decrease of 27% compared to 2015.
• 21 (11%) had positive treponemal serology (syphilis), an increase of 17% compared to 2015.
• 59 (29%) women attended for addiction support services, 38 of whom were participating in a prescription methadone maintenance programme, an increase of 14% compared to 2015.

It should be noted that these numbers refer to patients who booked for care during 2016. Table 1 summarises the outcome of patients who actually delivered during 2016. Of these patients, 27 were HIV-positive, 66 were HBV-positive, and 40 were HCV-positive. A total of 60 deliveries were to mothers attending the drug liaison midwife.