Voluntary Testing for Pregnant Women Essay -- Pregnancy Birth Papers

Voluntary Testing for Pregnant Women During the past decade, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become a leading cause of mortality among women. This population is now accounting for the most rapid increase in cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in recent years. As the numbers of cases of HIV infection have increased among women, particularly of childbearing age, increasing numbers of children have become infected as well. "Various studies conducted to date indicate that between 1/4 and 1/3 of infants born worldwide to women infected with HIV have become infected with the virus themselves" (HIV InSite, 1997). This is due to the route of transmission known as vertical transmission, from mother to infant. Thus, HIV infection has now also become a leading cause of mortality among young children, and virtually all of these infections can be attributed to vertical transmission. More than 4 million American women get pregnant each year, an estimated 8,000 of them HIV infected. (USA Today, 1999) HIV can be transmitted from an infected woman to her unborn fetus or newborn during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and even during the postpartum period via breastfeeding. "Reports show vertical transmission rates ranging from 13% to 40%" (HIV InSite, 1995b). This translates into approximately 1,000-2,000 HIV-infected infants being born each year in the United States. Although transmission of HIV to a fetus can occur as early as the second month of development, research suggests that at least one half of vertically transmitted infections from non-breastfeeding women occur shortly after or during the birth process (HIV InSite, 1995a). Due to the seriousness of vertical transmission, there have been ... ...d the Physician-Patient Relationship." AIDS & Ethics. Ed. Reamer, Frederic G. New York: Columbia UP, 1991: 188-214. "PHS Guidelines for HIV Counseling and Voluntary Testing for Pregnant Women." Factsheet Public Health Service. CDC. July 1995. (Article, HIV InSite, HIVInSite.ucsf.edu/topics/women/). "Public Health Service Task Force Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant Women Infected with HIV-1 for Maternal Health and for Reducing Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission in the United States." MMWR Reports, Vol. 47, January 30, 1998: No. RR-2. (Article, HIV InSite, hivinsite.ucsf.edu/medical). "US Public Health Recommendations for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Counseling and Voluntary Testing for Pregnant Women." US Department of Health & Human Services—Public Health Service. July 7, 1995. (Article, HIV InSite, hivinsite.ucsf.edu/medical/).