SIGIJATENG.ID – HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the human immune system. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a set of symptoms or diseases caused by a decrease in immunity due to infection with the HIV virus. In 2021, there were 2,485,430 pregnant women tested for HIV in Indonesia.
These tests revealed that 4,455 (0.18%) pregnant women were HIV positive. The provinces with the highest proportion of HIV positive pregnant women were North Maluku Province with 1.52%, Papua with 1.25% and Maluku with 0.91%.
Health service programs to prevent the transmission of HIV from HIV-infected pregnant women to their unborn children include the following activities:
• Integrated antenatal care (ANC) services including HIV provision and testing for pregnant women. Opening access for pregnant women to find out their HIV status, so efforts to prevent transmission and deliver treatment as soon as possible
• Diagnosing HIV in pregnant women: Diagnostic tests for HIV infection in pregnant women performed in Indonesia are usually tests to detect antibodies in the blood (serological test) using a rapid test (HIV rapid test) or the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
• Provision of antiviral (antiretroviral)/ARV therapy in pregnant women: All pregnant women with HIV should receive ARV therapy, because pregnancy itself is an indication for lifelong ARV provision. ARV combination therapy must use the correct dose and schedule
• Safe delivery: Several studies have shown that caesarean delivery carries a lower risk of transmission than vaginal delivery. Cesarean section can reduce the risk of HIV transmission from mother to baby by 2% – 4%.
• Delaying and organizing the next pregnancy: mothers who wish to postpone or manage a pregnancy can use long-term contraception, while mothers who decide not to have any more children can choose stable contraception.
• Management of infant and young child feeding: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months for infants born to HIV-infected mothers and already on ARV therapy for infant survival (infant and infant survival). free from HIV). After the baby is 6 months old, breastfeeding can be continued until the baby is 12 months old, accompanied by solid food.
• Administration of preventive antiviral drugs (antiretroviral prophylaxis) and co-trimoxazole antibiotics in children: antiretroviral prophylaxis starting on the first day after birth, preferably within 6 to 12 hours after birth. Antiretroviral prophylaxis is given for 6 weeks. In addition, the child was given the antibiotic co-trimoxazole as a preventative starting at 6 weeks of age until diagnosed with HIV.
• HIV testing in children: HIV testing in children is done after the child is 18 months old or can be done earlier at the age of 9-12 months, provided that if the result is positive, it should be repeated after the baby is 18 months.
• Immunization of babies with HIV-positive mothers: The vaccine can be given to babies born to HIV-infected mothers according to the national immunization schedule. The BCG vaccine can be given to babies born to HIV-infected mothers after it has been proven that they are not infected with HIV.
With optimal PMTCT efforts, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be reduced to less than 2%. Finally, do not hesitate to ask and consult a doctor at your local hospital if you need more information on prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission in pregnant women. Before, you could also make an appointment with the doctor through the RSU website or telephone number, so you didn’t have to wait long when you got to the hospital. Source: rs.ui.ac.id (akhida)
