HIV+ mothers can prevent infecting babies

If a baby tests positive for HIV, the situation can be addressed by giving it Nevirapine syrup. The syrup injection is usually administered hours before the delivery of the baby.

Recent statistics released by the Health Department show that HIV-prevalence among pregnant women in the country has increased from 29.4 percent to 30.2 percent.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, releasing the National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence survey in Pretoria, said there was a high degree of stabilisation in the percentage increase of pregnant women between the ages 16 to 24 who were infected. However, there had been an upward spike between the ages of 24 and 39.
“We’re still far from winning the war, but we’re getting somewhere.”
In the Free State, the prevalence among antenatal women was 30.6 percent in 2010. This was a slight increase of 0.5 percent on 2009’s percentage.
The Xhariep district’s HIV prevalence decreased significantly by 9.9 percent, from 26.9 percent in 2008 to 17 percent in 2010.
Lejweleputswa and Thabo Mofutsanyane also showed decreases, from 33.4 percent in 2009 to 30 percent in 2010 and from 31.3 percent to 30.7 percent in 2010, respectively.
Fezile Dabi recorded an increase of five percent from 27.9 percent in 2009 to 32.9 percent in 2010, followed by Motheo with an increase of 4.3 percent from 27.8 percent in 2009 to 32.1 percent in 2010.
The greatest number of HIV-positive antenatal women was in the 30 to 34 age group – a staggering 46.9 percent.
However, testing positive for HIV is no longer the death sentence it used to be three decades ago when Aids was first documented. And, there is no medical reason that HIV-positive babies should be born to HIV-positive mothers.
The stigma that left many women in despair has been removed and mothers are now able to ensure that their children live normal and healthy lives without HIV/Aids.
If a baby tests positive for HIV, the situation can be addressed by giving it Nevirapine syrup. The syrup injection is usually administered hours before the delivery of the baby.
According to Voices of America (VOA), 7 000 babies are born with HIV every year in South Africa – this despite the amount of HIV/Aids information distributed in communities.
Mother-to-child transmission occurs when a woman infected with HIV passes the virus on to her baby. This can occur during pregnancy, labour and delivery, or breastfeeding.
Experienced nursing sister, Didi Mtombeni, said the main reasons a baby might be infected is if the mother neglects to give the baby the medication on time.
She said it was pure negligence on the part of the mother to do this.
According to Mtombeni, an HIV-positive baby, from birth to three years old, would be given Abacavir, Lamivudine, and Lopinavir to ensure that he/she remains healthy. These are all Nevirapine medication.
An HIV- positive child over three years old would be given Abacavir, Lamivudine and Efavirenz, but according to her, this would be used on children who do not experience any side effects to the medication.
If the medication does not work, more tests would be conducted and the HIV-positive child would be given new medication.
For parents whose child is infected with HIV, Mtombeni advised that they get the necessary counselling for the child as soon as possible.
Selina Mabena* (26) was five months pregnant when she found out that she was HIV-positive.
“When I tested for HIV during my first three weeks of pregnancy, I was negative.”
Mabena said after testing positive, she was very shocked.
“My boyfriend was even there with me, helping and supporting me and I was upset.”
Despite the initial shock, Mabena decided to fight back. She began taking her ARVs and attended regular classes that educates people about their medication, the virus, and the importance of a positive attitude.
According to Mabena, she experienced no side effects due to the medication.
“When I become depressed, I normally call someone with the same problem as me and open up to them.”
Love Life’s Thabiso Mokoena said the number of HIV-related deaths in the province has decreased dramatically, and this is a result of educational programmes by Love Life and other programmes such as Soul City. Mokoena urged people to test for HIV and disclose their status to trusted family members.
*Not her real name.