HIV Cases Amongst Pregnant Women

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HIV Cases Amongst Pregnant Women

16:44 IST

The government is aware that a number of pregnant women have been testing positive for HIV/AIDS in North India.

State wise details are Annexed.

Besides the presence of high risk groups (Female Sex Workers, Men having Sex with Men and Injecting Drug Users) in North India, single male migration to areas with higher HIV prevalence is fueling the HIV epidemic. These migrant acquire HIV infection by indulging in risk behavior - unsafe sexual practices and injecting drugs at their destinations and further infect their wives on return.

The government has initiated a large scale programme of Information, Education & Communication to address the dangers of unsafe sexual practices for all women. Thus, HIV counseling is offered to all women giving her information about the modes of transmission of HIV and the methods to prevent the same. Counseling is done on correct and consistent condom usage to prevent HIV transmission and other STIs. Free condoms are available at the ICTCs and the women are encouraged to use it. To address the issue of HIV positive pregnant women, the Government has rolled out "Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission Programme (PPTCT)". The identified HIV positive pregnant woman is linked to HIV care & treatment services, and is counseled for institutional delivery to avail the benefit of prophylactic Nevirapine. For a HIV negative pregnant woman consistent use of condom is encouraged to maintain the HIV negative status and prevent other STIs.

There has been a rapid scale up in the number of pregnant women accessing these services. In 2008-09, 46 lakh pregnant women were counseled and tested for HIV. The figure increased to 62 lakhs in 2009-10.

Annexure

HIV Positive Pregnant women identified in 2008-09 and 2009-10

No. of HIV positive pregnant women identified in

2009-10

No. of HIV positive pregnant women identified in 2008-09

Bihar

313

217

Chandigarh

154

57

Chhatisgarh

144

85

Delhi

386

307

Haryana

543

71

Himachal Pradesh

34

20

Madhya Pradesh

185

162

Punjab

180

179

Rajasthan

400

221

Uttar Pradesh

488

357

Uttaranchal

48

43

This information was given by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today.

DS/GK

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