HIV/AIDS: antiretroviral therapy, caesarean birth and artificial milk for babies reduce mother/child transmission of HIV/AIDS. Contagion risk drops from 20-25% without therapy to as low as 2-3% with treatment

Rome (Fides Service) - Alarming results have been published by the Italian national monitoring programme for antiretroviral therapy among expectant mothers co-ordinated by the Higher Institute for Health. The programme which monitors HIV+ pregnant women in Italy has followed more than 400 cases. It found that 50% HIV+ mothers still do not plan pregnancy and only 25% of the HIV+ future mothers involved had undergone pre-conception examination.
According to the survey one out of every 4 women found out she was HIV+ when she was already pregnant. 15% of the HIV+ mothers was already undergoing antiretroviral therapy when she conceived. However no cases of mother/child transmission were recorded.
The national monitor programme initiated in 2001, has about 20 different centres all over Italy and in a little more than two years had has more than 700 signals. Antiretroviral therapy, caesarean birth and artificial milk for babies reduce mother/child transmission of HIV/AIDS. Contagion risk drops from 20-25% without therapy to as low as 2-3% with treatment. (AP) (14/9/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:22; Parole:225)