Can the spread of HIV virus from the mother to her baby be prevented?
The chances of HIV viruses spreading from the mother to the baby are about 30%. Such passage of infection can be reduced much by the use of dedicated medicines; preventive precautions during delivery and by not breast feeding. ‘Sneha’ centres give necessary counseling to pregnant women. Simultaneously blood tests are conducted to find out if the mother is infected by HIV. In case the mother is infected, treatments to prevent the passage of infection from the mother to the baby are given. If the mother is found to be infected the couple are also given special counseling. It is now possible to prevent the passage of HIV infection from the mother to the baby by effective medicines, precautions during delivery and preventing breast feeding. Medicines are given to infected mothers once the labour pains have started and to the baby after it has been delivered. ‘Sneha’ centres operate in all Government Medical Colleges, District Hospitals and selected Taluk hospitals. For further information
