THE PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION of HIV

(PMTCT)

What is PMTCT?

The transmission of HIV from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding is called mother-to-child transmission (MTCT).

WHO 2011

Why is PMTCT so important?

Without any interventions the transmission rate of HIV from mothers to their children ranges from 15-45%.

This rate can be reduced to levels below 5% with effective interventions.

The global community is committed to eliminating new pediatric HIV infections by 2015 and, as a consequence, improving maternal, newborn and child survival and health.

It has a Triple Life Saving Benefit

Effective PMTC • Saves the mother’s life• Saves the baby’s life• And so it saves the

family’s life

Who is involved with affected communities?

International and local partners are working together

• Governments• WHO• UNAIDS• UNICEF• PEPFAR• USAID• Faith-based organizations• Non Governmental

Organizations

Just Save OneUMGAF is raising funds for grassroots community interventions through the ‘Just Save One’ campaign.

The cost of therapies that can prevent transmission are $10!

This initiative saves lives, one mother, baby and family at a time…

The benefit & challenge

THE BENEFITPMTCT is high impact, cost effective and usually part of an integrated service, i.e. women and children may attend a clinic for multiple services, including HIV testing and treatment.

THE CHALLENGETo gain the support of the community to work with the women and their families.

How can we be smart with our PMTCT grants?

Through stand alone and integrated projects where people work together to, for example --

1. Overcome stigma and share resources.

2. Prevent HIV infection in women of child-bearing age.

3. Prevent unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV.

4. Prevent MTCT through early diagnosis and treatment.

5. Provide ongoing care for women living with HIV, their children and families.

1. Working together to overcome STIGMA & share RESOURCES

The CommunitySocial, spiritual and economic capitalServices (Govt & Private)Policy makers, health professionals, community Health workersEveryone interacts somewhereTeachers, drivers, shop keepers, farmers, children…can all be involved

2. Prevent HIV infection in women of child-bearing age.

NEW IDEAS ARE OFTEN “CULTURE BUSTERS”Harmful cultural practices can be barriers to effectively

implementing AIDS programs….here are some ways to counter those practices:

• AIDS Education at church, school and in the home• Stories and music on the radio and TV• Good information that is available & appropriate• People a girl/woman can talk to without fear• Confidential HIV Counselling and Testing

3. Prevent unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV

WOMEN JUST DON’T KNOW…• HIV Counselling and testing: so many people

don’t know that they’re infected.• Fear of rejection: people dread stigma.• Accessible, affordable, acceptable family

planning services.

4. PMTCT through early diagnosis and treatment.

• Comprehensive integrated Prenatal Care (PNC) that includes HIV counselling and testing.

• If positive, treatment starts at 14 • weeks or as soon after that as possible.• Treatment is more than medication: nutrition,

care of infections, a place to stay, social acceptance…

5. Ongoing care for women living with HIV, their children and families.

• Mother: ongoing treatment, nutritional support, breastfeeding, family planning…

• Baby: treatment, breastfeeding, weaning food, growth monitoring, vaccines…

• Father and children: Voluntary counselling, testing and treatment

• Community support

For interest: HIV and Infant feedingIn many countries, health services and mothers have faced a dilemma, either to• Give babies all the benefits

of breastfeeding but expose them to the risk of HIV infection, or

• Avoid all breastfeeding and increasing the risk of death from diarrhea and malnutrition.

Where authorities recommend HIV+ mothers to breastfeed and take ARVs, mothers should• Exclusively breastfeed for

the infant’s first 6 months • Start to introduce

complementary foods• And continue to breastfeed

until the child is 12 months old

For interest: How do HIV medicines prevent MTCT of HIV?

• Women with HIV take ARVs during pregnancy and childbirth to reduce their viral load. This reduces the risk of transmission of HIV and protects mothers’ health.

• The medication passes from the pregnant woman to her unborn child across the placenta. This transfer protects the baby from HIV especially during a vaginal delivery when there is exposure to the mother’s blood or other fluids. In some situations, a woman with HIV may have a C-section to reduce the risk further.

• Babies born to women with HIV receive HIV medicines to reduce the risk of infection that may have entered a baby’s body during childbirth and to allow breastfeeding.