Clinical Guidelines

Ms. Hoff also presented four (draft) documents that are intended to assist health workers who are responsible for caring for women antenatally, during delivery and postnatally. They cover the following areas:

· Antenatal care for HIV-infected women
· Voluntary counselling and testing for HIV in the maternity setting
· Labour and delivery care
· Post pregnancy care of the HIV-infected mother and her infant

The guidelines highlight the opportunities during antenatal, delivery and postnatal care to reinforce primary prevention of HIV, to detect and treat STIs and stress the benefits for pregnant women and their partners of knowing their HIV status. They also cover the specific care requirements of HIV-infected women, including prevention and treatment of HIV- related infections during and after pregnancy; specific measures during delivery including the use of ARVs to reduce the chance of transmission; counselling for future reproductive choices; and ongoing care and support for the mother and baby after delivery.