Institute urging pregnant women to be positive they’re HIV negative

Watch the video above: an institute wants pregnant women to make sure they’re positive they are negative

SASKATOON – “Are you positive you’re HIV negative?” This slogan is from the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute for anyone considering pregnancy to get tested.

With HIV numbers in Saskatchewan twice the national average, an awareness campaign has been launched targeting pregnant women.

In 2012, there were 177 newly identified HIV cases in the province, numbers slightly down from a peak of 200 in 2009.

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The goal is for people to make more informed decisions about their reproductive health and healthy babies free of HIV.

“All pregnant women should be offered the test. As far as testing women should be informed that the test is going to offered by they do have choice that they can decline if they so choose,” said Jackie Eaton, the institute’s sexual and reproductive health program coordinator.

The test is first offered to pregnant women in the first prenatal screening.

“I think that anyone who finds out that they’re pregnant is wanting the best health for their baby and so will take the steps possible in order to prevent that transmission if they’re given the information and provided care that does not include stigma and discrimination,” said Eaton.

If you are HIV positive and aware of this while pregnant, officials say there are very good prevention strategies to reduce the risk of transmission to your unborn baby.

Without these prevention strategies the risk of mother-to-baby transmission is about 25 per cent but if preventions strategies are introduced early enough that percentage can be dropped to less than two per cent.

“Women that are pregnant, they would, in the care of their doctor and infectious disease specialist put them on antiretroviral medications and that medication along with other care as far as general good health, help as far as nutrition and those types of things, they would be conducted throughout the entire pregnancy,” said Eaton.

According to Eaton, at any stage, medicines can be given that will help prevent the transmission of HIV and once born the baby will be given medicine for six weeks along with testing.

Eaton also encourages couples to get HIV tests done prior to trying to conceive a baby.

Additionally, anyone sexually active that has not had a test done in the last 12 months should get their status checked.

Now in its fourth year, the province is said to be making significant progress as part of its HIV strategy. Formula has been made available to babies born to mothers living with HIV to prevent transmission through breastfeeding.

There hasn’t been a baby born with HIV through mother-to-child transmission since 2011.

Prior to that, here is a look at the most accurate number of pregnancies in the province that occurred where the mother was HIV positive:

• 1989-1995 – 6 pregnancies
• 1996-2000 – 18 pregnancies
• 2001-2005 – 31 pregnancies
• 2006-2009 – 84 pregnancies