Tribunnews.com Reporter Aisyah Nursyamsi
TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA- Pregnant women who are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), can reduce the risk of their baby being infected during childbirth later. This was stated by Dr. Endah Citraresmi, Sp A (K).
There is a program for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Infection. This program, if executed properly, can reduce the risk of transmission by up to 2 percent.
However, according to Dr. Endah, the main step that needs to be done is to first know whether the mother is HIV positive or not. To find out is to do HIV test.
A pregnant mother recommended to follow HIV test to reduce the risk of transmission.
This has also been stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Health No. 21 of 2013 concerning the Prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Also read: HIV-AIDS positive pregnant women are not necessarily transmitted to babies, here are the preventions
“There is a regulation in the Permenkes that all pregnant mother tested for HIV, even Hepatitis B and sMSphilis. There is a Permenkes. It means it has to be done. But the reality can be mandatory? Apparently not,” he said via Health Radio broadcast, Friday (12/3/2021).
The number of negative views attached to HIV makes pregnant mother reluctant to take the test.
Not to mention there are health workers who are reluctant to carry out examinations.
“Even though I saw a high compliance puskesmas. Because it is private, patients can run away because they are afraid that they are suspected of having HIV, there are many miss communication that makes screening pregnant mother not going well, “said Dr Endah again.
Even though the Minister of Health issued a long time ago. But many still have not implemented the regulation.
There are still health workers who don’t scan for some reason or another pregnant mother refuse.
“Even though pregnant women in big cities are tested for toxo, it’s very expensive to check for rubella. They are willing to be tested. HIV doesn’t want to be tested, even though it’s cheaper and free. Then the impact on children is much bigger,” said Dr Endah again.
Dr. Endah said that more education is needed to build awareness pregnant mother. So they want to do an HIV test to save the baby. Not because they have behavior but want to prevent risks.
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