Perinatal HIV Infection - An Update

HIV pandemic is one of the most serious health crisis the world face today . Approximately 5-10% of all cases of HIV are children. Nearly all those children acquired infection through mother to child transmission either during pregnancy, delivery or by breastfeeding. So to protect the children from HIV perinatal transmission should be prevented. Whenever possible maternal HIV infection should be identified before or during pregnancy. This allows for earlier initiation of care for the mother and for more effective intervention to prevent perinatal transmission. A equitable and accessible maternal health system incorporating an effective AIDS screening program with adequate information provision, counseling and confidentiality is a prerequisite to this.