Care of HIV Positive Pregnant Women and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal Transmission Guidelines

Supportive non-directive counseling regarding reproductive choices, high risk prenatal care, modified management of labour and delivery, and postpartum and infant care are all important components in the comprehensive care of the HIV infected woman and her infant. The provision of pregnancy and reproductive health care in HIV infected women should involve a collaboration with individuals experienced in the management of high risk pregnancy and HIV care of women and infants.

In British Columbia (BC), the Women and Family HIV Centre (Oak Tree Clinic), a program of BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, provides clinical care and guidance for this population of HIV infected and exposed adults and children. The interdisciplinary team at the Oak Tree Clinic works in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control for surveillance and with the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS for drug therapy and overall provincial coordination.

Longitudinal surveillance on pregnancy outcomes in HIV positive women are tracked in BC through information provided by clinicians throughout the province who care for HIV positive pregnant women and their infants. This is vital for the continuous quality improvement of antiretroviral prescribing in pregnancy.

LINK to Oak Tree Clinic Resources