Seroprevalence of HIV in Antenatal Women in a Tertiary Care Hospital : Preventing MTCT of HIV

HIV/AIDS is without doubt the worst epidemic to hit humankind and women and children are the fastest growing group of HIV positive individuals. As 90% of the pediatric HIV infection is due to mother to child transmission, determination of the seroprevalence in pregnancy will also enable us to take some measures to decrease the transmission to the newborn.Data of 31,328 women attending the antenatal clinic during last 4 years was analyzed.The pregnant women & their spouses attending the antenatal clinic for consultation were counseled for HIV testing, after informed consent, blood samples collected for HIV testing. Seropositive women were questioned regarding their awareness of AIDS, personal habits, blood transfusion, drug abuse & methods of contraception. Despite rapid scientific advances there is still no cure and the drugs are expensive and toxic; however, the pandemic can be controlled by education and behavioral modification. This book tackles the science, demographics, and the devastating consequences of the disease, and suggests how we must respond through education and behavioral modifications.This book is essential for gynecologists, residents, practitioners & nurses.