back to top PMTCT treatment and education still lacking for many women
The health of pregnant women and their infants has been moved up the global agenda, but most remain without treatment for HIV and only half are accessing services to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT).
The fact that way over a quarter of a million children were infected with HIV in 2011, almost all through transmission from their mother during pregnancy, labour or breastfeeding, is a tragedy; yet this fact becomes incomprehensible when you consider that basic treatments for PMTCT have existed for over a decade. Today, highly effective treatment regimens are available to prevent mother-to-child transmission, evident by the fact that PMTCT has been almost eliminated in high-income countries.
But, successfully preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV is reliant on more than a woman taking a series of pills. UNAIDS identifies four key pillars that must be in place to achieve the universal prevention of new HIV infections in infants and the health of mothers, these are to: Keep women of reproductive age and their partners HIV-negative; Avoid unwanted pregnancies among HIV-infected women and women at risk of HIV; Ensure HIV testing of pregnant women and timely access to effective antiretroviral therapy; Integrate HIV care, treatment and support for HIV-infected women and their families.
It is clear, that PMTCT interventions cannot work independent of the settings that surround them. Greater commitment needs to be given to ensuring, not only that services exist, but also that women are willing, able and safe to access them. This involves addressing harmful social and cultural norms and attitudes, supporting the rights of women by implementing and enforcing national laws and policies, and by investing into the development of sustainable health systems and effective HIV treatment programmes.
Universal access to PMTCT services, among pregnant women, has not only been achieved in high-income countries; with marked determination and commitment many low-and middle-income countries are also achieving this goal with unprecedented results.
Eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015 may be ambitious, but it is not impossible. Explore our newly re-launched PMTCT series for an ‘Introduction to PMTCT’, a simple guide to PMTCT treatment options, as well as a breakdown of why making PMTCT services universal remains a challenge.
