HIV/AIDS Counselling: Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission

 
PREVENTING MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION (PMTCT)

This is another form of pre-test counselling. This is because for the pregnant woman who is getting tested she will be given pre-test counselling but because she is pregnant she will also be informed about the different options available for pregnant women who are HIV positive to avoid infecting their child with HIV.

Counsellor in antenatal clinics should provide information on Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) to pregnant women. Counsellors must explain that HIV can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. The benefits of early testing during pregnancy so as to enable better care for mother and child should also be emphasized.

Most HIV-positive children get the virus from their mothers. This type of transmission is called “vertical transmission”. There are three major ways for a pregnant positive woman to pass the virus to her child they are

• During pregnancy: About 25 % of infections occur during this stage. During pregnancy, the virus can be passed to the child through the placenta, especially if it is damaged in any way.
• During childbirth: About 60% of infections occur during this stage. During childbirth, the virus can be passed to the child through contact with the mother’s vaginal secretions and blood.
• Through breastfeeding: About 15% of infections occur during this stage because of the presence of the virus in breast milk. The chances of a mother passing HIV to her baby are higher if she becomes pregnant at a time when there is a high level of HIV virus in her blood. This happens when she is in the window period or she is ill with AIDS.

Advantages of Testing during pregnancy

• Knowledge of HIV status facilitates early referral for care.
• Knowledge of HIV status allows appropriate treatment and follow-up of the child.
• Knowledge of HIV status provides an opportunity to implement strategies to prevent transmission to the child.
• Knowledge of HIV status enables women to take precautions to help prevent transmission to sexual partners.
• For HIV-negative women, knowledge of HIV status can lead to appropriate HIV prevention measures and risk-reduction behaviour.