Do all babies born to people living with HIV automatically get HIV?

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There have been many advances in the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission. Without any treatment, the risk of transmission is one in four, about 25% chance. Luckily, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk to less than 1%

  • Prenatal care (attending all visits)
  • Infectious Disease care (attending all visits)
  • Antiretroviral medications taken on schedule during pregnancy to achieve an undetectable viral load
  • Intravenous AZT during delivery
  • Oral AZT syrup (and if needed other antiretroviral medications) to the baby for four or six weeks after birth depending on the regimen
  • Formula feeding (Breastfeeding should be avoided as this significantly increases the risk of transmission through the breast milk.)
  • Early infant bath, immediately after birth
  • Pediatric infectious disease experts or other pediatricians specializing in HIV infection in children should monitor the newborn for at least the first 4 months.