To ensure that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is not transmitted from the mother to her newborn and reduce infant mortality rate, the Maharashtra State Aids Control Society has kicked off a new programme - Early Infant Diagnosis.
To ensure that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is not transmitted from the mother to her newborn and reduce infant mortality rate, the Maharashtra State Aids Control Society has kicked off a new programme - Early Infant Diagnosis.
The programme involves detecting the virus in infants below 18 months of age.
“Earlier, we used to test children above 18 months of age for HIV. But, as the mortality rate in HIV+ newborns is 33% in one year and 50% in the second year, we started the Early Infant Diagnosis programme in April 2010,” said Dr Asha Hegde, Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission consultant, Maharashtra State Aids Control Society.
Under the programme, in the first six weeks after the child is born, a dry blood spot collection is done and sent to NARI in Pune for the polymer chain reaction test. If the test result is positive, a whole blood spot testing is done and sent to NARI.
“If the child tests negative in second test, we ask the parents to repeat the test every six months until the child stops breastfeeding. This way we can start treating children who test positive early and reduce mortality rate,” said Dr Hegde.
The dry blood spot and whole blood spot tests are done at the Early Infant Diagnosis centres and a few select Integrated Counselling and Treatment centres in the state.
“The tests are costly outside. At our centres, they are done for free,” added Dr Hegde.
The Maharashtra State Aids Control Society has also started screening pregnant women who visit primary health centres and sub-centres for HIV.
“Our current outreach to babies below 18 months of age is only 50%. To maximise this reach, we have started screening pregnant women,” said Dr Hegde. “The women who test positive for HIV are monitored. After delivery she is asked to get her child tested at the Early Infant Diagnosis centres.”
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