Mother to Child Transmission
What is mother-to-child transmission?
Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is when an HIV-infected woman passes the virus to her baby. This can occur during pregnancy, labour and delivery, or breastfeeding. Without treatment, around 15-30% of babies born to HIV positive women will become infected with HIV during pregnancy and delivery. A further 5-20% will become infected through breastfeeding.1
Is MTCT a major problem?
In 2008, around 430,000 children under 15 became infected with HIV, mainly through mother-to-child transmission. About 90% of these MTCT infections occurred in Africa where AIDS is beginning to reverse decades of steady progress in child survival.2
In high income countries MTCT has been virtually eliminated thanks to effective voluntary testing and counselling, access to antiretroviral therapy, safe delivery practices, and the widespread availability and safe use of breast-milk substitutes. If these interventions were used worldwide, they could save the lives of thousands of children each year.
How can MTCT be prevented (PMTCT)?
[pic]An HIV positive mother and her HIV positive baby in India
Effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) requires a three-fold strategy.3 4 • Preventing HIV infection among prospective parents - making HIV testing and other prevention interventions available in services related to sexual health such as antenatal and postpartum care. • Avoiding unwanted pregnancies among HIV positive women - providing appropriate counseling and support to women living with HIV to enable them to make informed decisions about their reproductive lives. • Preventing the transmission of HIV from HIV positive mothers to their infants during pregnancy, labour, delivery and breastfeeding. • Integration of HIV care, treatment and support for women found to be positive and their families.
The last of these can be achieved by the use of antiretroviral drugs, safer infant feeding practices and other
Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is when an HIV-infected woman passes the virus to her baby. This can occur during pregnancy, labour and delivery, or breastfeeding. Without treatment, around 15-30% of babies born to HIV positive women will become infected with HIV during pregnancy and delivery. A further 5-20% will become infected through breastfeeding.1
Is MTCT a major problem?
In 2008, around 430,000 children under 15 became infected with HIV, mainly through mother-to-child transmission. About 90% of these MTCT infections occurred in Africa where AIDS is beginning to reverse decades of steady progress in child survival.2
In high income countries MTCT has been virtually eliminated thanks to effective voluntary testing and counselling, access to antiretroviral therapy, safe delivery practices, and the widespread availability and safe use of breast-milk substitutes. If these interventions were used worldwide, they could save the lives of thousands of children each year.
How can MTCT be prevented (PMTCT)?
[pic]An HIV positive mother and her HIV positive baby in India
Effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) requires a three-fold strategy.3 4 • Preventing HIV infection among prospective parents - making HIV testing and other prevention interventions available in services related to sexual health such as antenatal and postpartum care. • Avoiding unwanted pregnancies among HIV positive women - providing appropriate counseling and support to women living with HIV to enable them to make informed decisions about their reproductive lives. • Preventing the transmission of HIV from HIV positive mothers to their infants during pregnancy, labour, delivery and breastfeeding. • Integration of HIV care, treatment and support for women found to be positive and their families.
The last of these can be achieved by the use of antiretroviral drugs, safer infant feeding practices and other
References: 15. 'Review of the HIVNET 012 Perinatal HIV Prevention Study ', National Academy of Sciences, 2005 16 21. WHO, 2010, ‘Towards Universal Access: Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector’, Geneva 22 25. Treatment Monitoring and Advocacy Project, International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (2009, May), ‘Failing Women, Failing Children, ‘HIV, Vertical Transmission and Women’s Health’ 26 29. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and USAID, 2010, "Call to Action: End of Project Report, 2002-2010"