EFFECTIVENESS OF PERINATAL HEALTH COUNSELLING ON SPECIFIC PREGNANCY OUTCOME OF MOTHERS WITH HIV

Abstract

Motherhood is of great importance to many, and perhaps most, to HIV positive women.HIV in pregnancy is a bio-psychosocial phenomenon, as its impact is not only limited to the immune system, but also on the psychological functioning, culture, religion and other social factors¹. Globally, an estimated 1.3 million women and girls living with HIV become pregnant each year. In the absence of intervention, the rate of transmission of HIV from a mother living with HIV to her child during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding range from 15-45%². The Government of India is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of ‘ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.’ The National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) phase V (2021–26) lays down the clear pathway for achieving these goals, by building on the gains achieved during earlier programme phases, advancing best practices, and adopting innovations tailored to respond to the diverse local needs across the country, in an evidence informed manner³. India is committed to achieving the goal of Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV by 2025 under the NACP⁴.