HIV is transmitted (passed) from one person to another through specific body fluids—blood, semen, genital fluids, and breast milk. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is when a woman infected with HIV transmits HIV to her baby during pregnancy, during labour and delivery, or by breastfeeding. Although the risk is very low, HIV can also be transmitted to a baby through food that was previously chewed (pre-chewed) by a mother or caretaker infected with HIV. To be safe, babies should not be fed pre-chewed food. HIV cannot be transmitted through casual contacts, such as hugging and closed-mouth kissing. HIV also cannot be transmitted by items such as toilet seats, doorknobs, or dishes used by a person infected with HIV.
Use of Anti-HIV or Antiretroviral (ARV) medications to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV
Anti-HIV medications are used at the following times to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV:
• During pregnancy, pregnant women infected with HIV receive a regimen (combination) of at least three different anti-HIV medications.
• During labour and delivery, pregnant women infected with HIV receive intravenous (IV) AZT and continue to take the medications in their regimens by mouth.
• After birth, babies born to women infected with HIV receive liquid AZT for 6 weeks. Babies of mothers who did not receive anti-HIV medications during pregnancy may be given other anti-HIV medications in addition to AZT.
In addition to taking anti-HIV medications to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a pregnant woman infected with HIV may also need anti-HIV medications for the sake of her own health. Some women may already be on a regimen before becoming pregnant. However, because some anti-HIV medications may not be safe to use during pregnancy or may be absorbed differently by the body, the medications in a woman’s regimen may change.
Taking anti-HIV medications during pregnancy reduces the amount of HIV in an infected mother’s body. Having less HIV in the body reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. Some anti-HIV medications also pass from the pregnant mother to her unborn baby through the placenta. The anti-HIV medication in the baby’s body helps protect the baby from HIV infection. This is especially important during delivery when the baby may be exposed to HIV in the mother’s genital fluids or blood. After birth, babies born to women infected with HIV receive anti-HIV medication. The medication reduces the risk of infection from HIV that may have entered the babies’ bodies during delivery.
