Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV

Read this page in:
Español

What's New

Nursing Care of Patients with HIV/AIDS (Training Materials)

Also:

Prevention for Positives
Read Family Health Research 1(3)
Youth InfoNet 45

Mother-to-child (MTCT) transmission of HIV remains a major public health problem worldwide. Each year an estimated 600,000 HIV-infected infants � at least 1,600 every day � are born in resource-constrained countries.

Transmission of HIV occurs during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding. Among women who do not breastfeed, an estimated 65 percent of perinatal HIV infections occur late in pregnancy and during labor and delivery.

Reducing MTCT involves preventing:

(1) HIV infection among women of childbearing age

(2) Unwanted pregnancy among HIV-positive women

(3) Transmission during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding

A comprehensive program to reduce MTCT includes:

Improved availability, quality, and use of maternal and child health services
Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV
Antiretroviral therapy
Infant feeding options
Casesarian section
Care and support
Other interventions, such as vaginal disinfection or vitamin A supplementation
Contraceptive services

Averting HIV-infected Births (2004, vol. 23, no. 3)
HIV-positive Women Have Different Needs (2001, vol. 20, no 4)
Reducing the HIV Risk From Mother to Infant (1997, vol. 17, no. 2)

Fact sheet, Reducing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) Strategy (2004)

IMPACT on HIV: Affordable Drug Offers Hope for Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

IMPACT on HIV: Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

Other related resources

Family Planning and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission: Contraception in the Era of HIV/AIDS. (FHI satellite session at the 2004 International AIDS Conference in Bangkok):

Introduction (slide presentation by Duff Gillespie, PhD) (PDF, 78K)
Family Planning in the Era of HIV (slide presentation by Jacqueline E. Darroch, PhD) (PDF, 339K)
Contraception and HIV: Acquisition, Transmission, Progression (slide presentation by Willard Cates, Jr., MD, MPH) (PDF, 666K)
How do we promote Family Planning in the Era of HIV/AIDS? (slide presentation by E. Anne Peterson, MD, MPH) (PDF, 470K)
Integration of Family Planning and PMTCT Programs: The 'Why' and the 'How' (slide presentation by Heidi W. Reynolds, PhD, MPH) (PDF, 280K)

FHI/Guyana Launches PMTCT Educational Campaign

FHI/Guyana has launched a prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) campaign in Guyana. The campaign offers a first-of-its-kind set of materials to promote good PMTCT behaviors. The materials include a set of cue cards to support client-provider interaction around PMTCT. The cards highlight specific moments when stigma and discrimination should be discussed. Other items in the campaign include a take-home brochure, a button, and several posters.

arrow graphic

Learn more �
arrow graphic

View set of cue cards �