Guidelines for Management of Pregnant Women with HIV Infection

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) should be initiated in all pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV regardless of WHO clinical stage and at any CD4 cell count and should be continued lifelong.

ART should be initiated as early as 14 weeks of gestation or as soon as possible thereafter during pregnancy. However, even if they are identified late in pregnancy or postpartum, ART should be initiated immediately as it is the most effective way to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. All efforts should be made to identify HIV-infected pregnant women early enough to avoid the need for high-risk prophylaxis for infants.

The guidlines for management of pregnant women with HIV infection - 2016 was prepared to assist policymakers to plan prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) interventions and healthcare workers to provide optimal services to pregnant mothers.