HIV tests have been recommended by the Polish Gynecological Society for several years, yet gynecologists rarely recommend them to women planning pregnancy or already pregnant. Meanwhile, a woman under proper care - during pregnancy and childbirth - can give birth to a he althy, HIV-free baby!
The percentage of women infected with the virusHIVis growing - in Poland they constitute 30 percent. infected populations - most of them are of childbearing age, some become pregnant and give birth to achild , which poses a risk of transmission from mother to child. According to the data, about 15 infected children are born annually. If you take into account the fact that it is assumed that almost 70 percent. sick people do not know about carrier status - these numbers are definitely increasing. The data would be different if at the beginning of pregnancy the doctor referred the mother toblood testfor HIV.
HIV-free child
A woman under proper care during pregnancy and childbirth may give birth to a he althy, uninfected child. Thanks to the current drugs, the HIV infection of a child can be reduced practically to zero. There is one condition: the woman must take medication from the second trimester, and two months before delivery (by planned caesarean section), take the so-called Retrovir (AZT) birthing pack: drip (for administration during labor) and in syrup - for newborn. This package also includes test tubes with detailed instructions for he althcare professionals on when to collect blood and where to send it for early neonatal diagnosis. These works lower the risk of infecting a child to 2-3%!
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High risk of HIV infection
Every year in Poland there are about 70-100 births in women with confirmed HIV infection. Unfortunately, however, there are still cases of diagnosing HIV infection in a woman only after diagnosis of HIV infection in a child. The risk of HIV transmission from mother to child, if the mother is not aware of her infection, is as high as 30%. The risk of infection in women with a confirmed carrier, with appropriate prophylaxis, is much lower and amounts to approx. 1%. An HIV-positive mother cannot breastfeed her baby.