Building a Family When One or Both Partners are Living with HIV

Pregnancy Awareness Week 2023

South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world, with a significant proportion of women of reproductive age living with the virus.

For these women, pregnancy can be a time of fear and uncertainty especially fears of not being able to have children. However, with proper medical care and treatment, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be greatly reduced and couples, where one or both partners are living with HIV, can have healthy, HIV-negative children.

One of the most important things for HIV-positive mothers is to take their antiretroviral (ART) medications as prescribed by their healthcare provider.

ART can lower the amount of HIV in the mother's blood (also known as the viral load) to very low levels, which greatly reduces the risk of transmission to the baby.

ART should be started as soon as possible after a woman finds out she is pregnant and should be continued throughout pregnancy, labour, delivery, and breastfeeding.

The South African government and various organisations are working to increase access to healthcare and resources for couples affected by HIV, including providing ART and other services through community-based programs.

With proper support and medical care, couples where one or both partners are living with HIV can have healthy, HIV-negative children and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

In conclusion, Pregnancy Awareness Week in South Africa is a time to celebrate and support all families and empower HIV-positive mothers to give their babies the best start in life. With proper medical care and treatment, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be greatly reduced, allowing these mothers to bring their babies into the world with confidence and hope for a healthy future.

If you want more information on the steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of transmission, please visit your healthcare provider and they will work with you to make decisions that are right for you.

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