C Pancharoen, U Thisyakorn

Abstract

There are at least 6 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the Asia Pacific region. The numbers of HIV-infected women and children are increasing at an alarming rate. Important components that need to be addressed in order to successfully prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV include voluntary and confidential counselling and testing, family planning, obstetric care, antiretroviral use and infant feeding. There are many services that can aid in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the care of HIV-infected mothers and their children. Each country needs to take into account its HIV/AIDS epidemiology, its infrastructure and the available resources. Providing services in a stepwise manner can aid in the achievement of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.