Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
Project Inform perspective 1998(25): 22-23
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 1058-7454 PMID: 11365847 Document Number: 557624
Vertical transmission of HIV can be reduced, however, anti-HIV therapy and proper prenatal care are not always available to all women who need them. The Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center (BAPAC) in San Francisco has attacked these issues and has reduced the number of vertical transmissions to virtually zero. BAPAC's comprehensive program of educating pregnant women on treatment options, attending to the mother's health, and administering AZT during labor and to the newborns, has led to their tremendous success. It is recommended that HIV positive women avoid breast feeding to reduce the opportunity for HIV transmission. Women need to weigh their options regarding delivery. Ceasarean section, along with the use of AZT, has been shown to reduce HIV transmission, yet the surgery can be risky for the mother. More research is needed on treatment alternatives and the effects of therapy on pregnancy. To meet the Public Health Service Guidelines of providing the best available care to women, more programs like BAPAC should be developed to ensure the health of the mother and thereby reduce the likelihood of transmission to the child. Contact information is provided.