A new hope
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An HIV-positive mother and her daughter receive a regular checkup in Shangcai county, Henan province, in a national program to block mother-to-child transmission. [Photo by Zhu Xiang / Xinhua] |
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"Without interventions to block the transmission, the ratio will be as high as to 34.8 percent."
Although there are no statistics on provincial programs, about 1,160 counties receive financial support from the central government to block mother-to-child transmission, according to Wang, whose institute, under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is the main facility to provide technical guidance for the national program.
With those widely launched programs, HIV testing has become part of routine antenatal checks when mothers-to-be arrive at hospitals. The fathers are also advised to take the test. Many women and children's health hospitals provide free HIV testing to pregnant women, Wang says.
Antiretroviral therapy is provided for HIV-positive women before, during and after pregnancy, under the direction of professionals.
When it comes to delivery, doctors will weigh the choices of a C-section and natural birth, to ensure the greatest benefit for mother and child, without transmitting HIV from the mother to the baby.
They will also weigh the choice between breast-feeding and formula milk, because although breast-feeding can transmit the virus, formula milk might be unavailable to some people.
Free psychological consultations are also offered to HIV-positive pregnant women and mothers through the process.
