Vertical Transmission

Lack Of HIV Testing In Pregnant Women Risks Passing Virus To Babies

Published in Women's Health Weekly, August 30th, 2001

While current guidelines call for all pregnant women in the U.S. to be tested for HIV, nearly half are not, according to a new study. As a result, they run the risk of passing the infection to their babies.

Because HIV infection has a long incubation period, many pregnant women may have the infection and not know it. However, treatment with the antiretroviral drug, zidovudine, can reduce the risk of HIV infected women passing the virus to their babies as well as benefiting the health of the women.

Since 1994 when the guidelines came out, the number of pregnant women being tested has increased from 41% to 56% in 1999. This leaves many pregnant...

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Source: Women's Health Weekly (2001-08-30)

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