HIV-Positive Mothers Deliver Healthy Babies

Victoria, a 2-day-old girl, was delivered by a HIV-positive mother in the Simferopol Maternity #2. Her future should be HIV free. (Photo by Alex Golubov). Simferopol - December 09, 2008. HIV transmission rate drops to less then 2% in Simferopol Maternity #2. Fear, anger, irritation and frustration – these are but few emotional determinants attributed to most of the young mothers who discover their HIV-positive status during their pregnancy.  The biggest concern for an HIV-positive woman in the antenatal period is whether she can deliver a HIV-negative baby.  "My husband and I would be heartbroken if our baby were born HIV-infected.  If we die, no one will adopt our baby should it be HIV-positive, and no one will care for it the way it deserves," said Ludmila Syomkina (name changed), who is HIV-positive and admitted to Maternity # 2 in Simferopol for an elective C-section. Simferopol Maternity #2 has been working with USAID’s Maternal and Infant Health Project since 2004.  It is one of the most successful sites implementing the World Health Organization’s effective perinatal practices.  During five years of collaboration with the USAID project, the maternity has achieved considerable results.  It has substantially reduced unnecessary medical interventions during delivery: postpartum anesthesia dropped from 9% in 2004 to 0.9% in 2008, episiotomies dropped from 22% in 2004 to 4% in 2008, while companion deliveries increased from 17% in 2004 to 72% in July 2008.   Prevention of HIV transmission from a mother-to-child is one of the project’s most important tasks.  In successfully fostering evidence-based mother/baby care practices, health care professionals of the maternity succeeded in reducing HIV transmission to less then 2% versus a national mother-to-child transmission rate of 8%.  Appropriate counseling of mothers, timely antiretroviral treatment and 100% implementation of elective C-section, family-oriented baby care and a non-stigma approach are the key factors that contributed to such a low transmission level.   "Most women, like Ludmila, experience fear for the future of their newborn.  We provide maximum support, appropriate care, counseling and human right-based approach to each of our patients, and in return we receive happy smiles," said Dr.  Vaycheslav Regushevsky, Chief of obstetric department at Simferopol Maternity #2.

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