ASHM Report Back
Clinical posts from members and guests of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) from various international medical and scientific conferences on HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, and sexual health.
Prevention of Mother to child transmission
Has Australia met the W.H.O. guidelines on preventing HIV Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT)? This session looked at the current guidelines for antenatal care, management and rates of transmission.
As I work with antenatal and postnatal mums, I was interested in seeing if the current practices have had a positive effect on transmission rates. The answer...yes we have met the guidelines and reduced the rate of transmission.
Australian guidelines
1) HIV testing is conducted at the first antenatal appointment.
2) Clinical care of the mother include; CD4, VL, STI screening, starting ART and resistance testing
3) Strategies at birth; ART for the baby immediately, mode of birth decided by maternal VL, formula feeding exclusively. Baby to have HIV testing at 6 weeks and 3 months.
Surveillance of perinatal exposure
Data reviewed for the 30 years 1986-2016. 714 babies born to mothers who were HIV positive.
The rates of perinatal exposures are increasing, however the rates of babies with HIV have dropped significantly.
Rates of HIV testing has increased dramatically, and the exclusive use of formula feeding has also increased.
Conclusion
There has been an increase in the number of HIV positive mothers, but a reduction in the MTCT. Australia meets the W.H.O. targets. Which is fantastic news!