Health experts are urging the government to consider expanding HIV prophylaxis to pregnant women and breastfeeding moms, as many of them are vulnerable to HIV infection and are likely to pass this on to their babies. Stock photo.It has proven effective in protecting young women and other high-risk populations from HIV infection, but now scientists want the HIVto be given to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers due to the persistent HIV infections among this group.
“It is urgent and overdue to implement PrEP in pregnancy and during breastfeeding. Doing so will align with the national PMTCT policy of strengthening antenatal and postnatal care for both HIV-negative and positive mothers. Failure to do so in the face of proven prevention interventions allows ongoing avoidable HIV infection among women in SA, with the added high risk of transmission to their offspring,” they said.
In KwaZulu-Natal the rate was about 41%, while the Western Cape had the lowest prevalence at about 18%. As a country with highest number of people living with HIV in the world, Davey and her counterparts called on the government to urgently take the following steps:allow nurse-initiation and management of ART-trained nurses and midwives to prescribe PrEP in antenatal clinics and postnatal settings;
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