HIV CASES AMONGEST PREGNANT WOMEN

The government is aware that a number of pregnant women have been testing positive for HIV/AIDS in North India.

Besides the presence of high risk groups (Female Sex Workers, Men having Sex with Men and Injecting Drug Users) in North India, single male migration to areas with higher HIV prevalence is fueling the HIV epidemic. These migrant acquire HIV infection by indulging in risk behavior – unsafe sexual practices and injecting drugs at their destinations and further infect their wives on return.

The government has initiated a large scale programme of Information, Education & Communication to address the dangers of unsafe sexual practices for all women. Thus, HIV counseling is offered to all women giving her information about the modes of transmission of HIV and the methods to prevent the same. Counseling is done on correct and consistent condom usage to prevent HIV transmission and other STIs. Free condoms are available at theICTCs and the women are encouraged to use it. To address the issue of HIV positive pregnant women, the Government has rolled out “Prevention of Parent to Child TransmissionProgramme (PPTCT)”. The identified HIV positive pregnant woman is linked to HIV care & treatment services, and is counseled for institutional delivery to avail the benefit of prophylacticNevirapine.  For a HIV negative pregnant woman consistent use of condom is encouraged to maintain the HIV negative status and prevent other STIs.

There has been a rapid scale up in the number of pregnant women accessing these services. In 2008-09, 46 lakh pregnant women were counseled and tested for HIV. The figure increased to 62 lakhs in 2009-10.

Annexure