The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) wishes to urge pregnant women to access antenatal services immediately when they find out that they are pregnant as this is crucial to ensure a safe pregnancy and to prevent maternal infections that can lead to premature birth, still births and other complications.
Antenatal services are freely and daily accessible at all primary healthcare facilities across the province. These play a key role in preventing vertical transmission (mother to child transmission) of new HIV cases, TB cases, syphilis cases, and other infections.
In the period of January – June 2023, the Gauteng province recorded a total of 208 children born with HIV (Ekurhuleni 72, Johannesburg 70, Tshwane 41, West Rand 18 and Sedibeng 7), whereas in January – May 2024, a total of 151 was recorded in the province (Ekurhuleni 51, Johannesburg 55, Tshwane 25, West Rand 14 and Sedibeng 6). The data for June 2024 will only be available towards the end of July 2024 after validation and verification.
Even though this data indicates a reduction in mother to child transmission, it is still concerning that there are children who are born with HIV when there are effective prevention measures. Pregnant women can access HIV testing, PreExposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), viral load monitoring and management, TB screening and Prevention Therapy among other services.
According to the 2023 Guideline for Vertical Transmission Prevention of Communicable Infections by the National Department of Health, “Infections during pregnancy are a major contributing factor to perinatal morbidity and mortality. In utero infections may directly affect the foetus and can lead to intrauterine deaths and stillbirths. The foetus may also be affected indirectly as a consequence of maternal infection leading to premature birth or foetal growth restriction”.
The national guideline has four pillars which embed a family-centered approach, acknowledging the role of partners in primary prevention, pregnancy prevention, and preventing vertical transmission.
According to GDoH’s Director of Maternal Child Health and Nutrition, Sikhonjiwe Masilela the GDoH has put in place a number of measures to deal with the preventing vertical transmission. These include:
The prioritisation of health literacy and advocacy on knowing your status, fertility planning and encouraging those who are HIV positive and are on ARV to adhere to treatment.
The strengthening of the principle of the first 1000 days of a child’s birth which includes education on exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months (and breastfeeding up to 2 years), provision of PrEP during pregnancy and breastfeeding period.
Encouraging families and partners to support the mother and the baby during the first thousand days and beyond.
Strengthening data collection, validation, verification, capturing and utilisation for effective and appropriate service delivery to improve the health of mothers and babies.
“In order to prevent vertical transmissions, our healthcare facilities provide HIV testing services to pregnant women at their first booking of antenatal visit, and testing is repeated at every scheduled antenatal visit. This is why we cannot stress enough the importance of antenatal care services.
“To further ensure prevention of mother to child transmission, we also recommend that after giving birth, mothers test for HIV every three months while breastfeeding and that they get initiated on PreExposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Partner testing is also highly encouraged,” explained Masilela.
SOURCED FROM THE GPG WEBSITE.
