How do we prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV?

Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT)

1. Receive antenatal services and HIV testing during pregnancy.
2. Have access to antiretroviral treatment (ART)
3. Practice safe childbirth practices and appropriate infant feeding.
4. Make use of infant HIV testing and other post-natal healthcare services.

How can HIV transmission be prevented?

You can use strategies such as abstinence (not having sex), never sharing needles, and using condoms the right way every time you have sex. You may also be able to take advantage of HIV prevention medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

What are 3/5 ways to protect yourself from contracting HIV?

You can:

1. Use condoms the right way every time you have sex.
2. Choose less risky sexual behaviors.
3. Limit your number of sexual partners.
4. Never share needles.
5. Talk to your doctor about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), taking medicine daily to prevent HIV infection, if you are at very high risk for HIV.

What steps can be taken to prevent vertical transmission from mother to baby?

How can vertical transmission be prevented?

• Taking anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy.
• Making a careful choice between caesarean section and vaginal delivery.
• Not breastfeeding.
• Giving the new baby an anti-HIV drug for a few weeks.

When should I take PEP medication?

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) means taking medicine to prevent HIV after a possible exposure. PEP should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to HIV.

What happens if you take PEP after 72 hours?

If taken within 72 hours after possible exposure, PEP is highly effective in preventing HIV. But to be safe, you should take other actions to protect your partners while you are taking PEP. This includes always using condoms with sexual partners and not sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs.

How can we prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy?

The use of HIV medicines and other strategies have helped lower the rate of perinatal transmission of HIV to 1% or less in the United States and Europe. (HIV medicines are called antiretrovirals.) Pregnant women with HIV should take HIV medicines throughout pregnancy and childbirth to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV.

What is mother-to-child transmission of HIV?

Perinatal transmission of HIV is also called mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The use of HIV medicines and other strategies have helped to lower the rate of perinatal transmission of HIV to 1% or less in the United States and Europe. (HIV medicines are called antiretrovirals.)

Can HIV be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy?

Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV. An HIV-positive mother can transmit HIV to her baby in during pregnancy, childbirth (also called labor and delivery), or breastfeeding.

Why eliminate MTCT of HIV?

Elimination of MTCT of HIV is strongly supported by global commitments and the promotion of integration of prevention of MTCT interventions into maternal, newborn child and adolescent health services, as well as strengthened health systems.