Perinatal HIV transmission is defined by the CDC as “HIV transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or breastfeeding”. If HIV is diagnosed in the mother before or during pregnancy, the rate of transmission to infants can be reduced to less than 1%. Despite the opportunity for infection reduction and a 90% decline in the number of cases since the mid-1990s, perinatal HIV is the most common route of infection in children.
A recent study in Georgia showed that of 698 pregnancies between 2006 – 2011, nearly 18 children became infected with a preventable case of HIV. For women who are not adhering to ART, the risk of HIV transmission to their infant is between 15 – 45%.
Resources
- HIV Screening and Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women (Georgia OBGyn)
- Georgia Department of Public Health: Enhanced Perinatal HIV/AIDS Surveillance (EPS)
- Perinatal Exposure Surveillance involves collecting information on all HIV-positive women who give birth and their infants to understand how well Perinatal Transmission Prevention Guidelines are being followed. Data are used to monitor HIV Prevention activities. Perinatal exposure Surveillance was conducted during 2006-2011 for infants born at 7 Regional Perinatal Centers throughout Georgia. This activity was known as Enhanced Perinatal surveillance (EPS).The most recent EPS activity is examining mother-infant pairs in Georgia (not just for infants born at referral centers). This surveillance began in 2016 and is ongoing.
- Preventing Perinatal HIV Transmission
- HIV Aids Epidemiology