Preventing HIV Infection
Preventing HIV in Pregnant Women
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What
Should Be Our Guiding Principles?
- UNFPA must ensure that due attention is given
to preventing HIV infection in pregnant women.
As part of the national HIV/AIDS strategy,
prevention of HIV infection in women of
childbearing age, in this instance pregnant
women, should be integrated into reproductive
health programmes that aim to prevent unwanted
pregnancies through adequate family planning
services, to prevent and manage STIs, and to
provide maternal health. As always, interventions
should be designed within the framework of
maternal health and reproductive rights of the
pregnant woman.
- Even in the era of HIV/AIDS, breastfeeding remains the best
possible nutrition for the greater majority of babies and therefore,
as part of quality maternal health services, the practice of breastfeeding
by women who are HIV-negative or whose HIV status is unknown should
be promoted, protected and supported. Avoidance of all breastfeeding
by HIV-infected mothers is recommended when replacement feeding
is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe. If
it is not, recommended options for HIVpositive mothers include
exclusive breastfeeding with early cessation, expressed and heat-treated
breast milk and breastfeeding by a wet nurse not infected with
HIV. All HIV-positive pregnant women should be counseled on infant
feeding options and they should be supported in their choices3.
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