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Programme messages

Programme messages

  • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that affects the body’s ability to fight infection.  It can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if left undetected and untreated
  • A woman with HIV can pass the virus on to others including her baby during pregnancy, birth or through breastmilk
    The number of people with HIV in New Zealand is low.  However, that number is increasing and so all pregnant women are being offered an HIV test as part of their antenatal care
  • Screening for HIV is strongly recommended for all pregnant women
  • The screening test for HIV will be offered at the same time as other routine antenatal blood tests (Rhesus factor and blood cell antibodies, full blood count, hepatitis B, rubella and syphilis).  One sample of blood can be used for all the tests
  • The health professional who requested the blood test will provide the women with their result.  The majority of pregnant women will be found not to have HIV
  • If a woman’s HIV test is positive, professional advice, help and support will be given to help look after her health, her baby’s health and that of her partner, family or whānau.  Pregnant women with HIV will be referred for specialist consultant care and treatment
  • Treatment to prevent HIV being passed on to the baby is very effective.  Without treatment there is about a 25% chance the baby will be born with HIV.  With treatment, the chance of the baby being born with HIV is less than 1%
  • Pregnant women with HIV will usually be offered a combination of treatment and interventions including:
    Medicines during pregnancy and birth to help women stay healthy for longer, and to prevent them from passing the virus on to the baby
    Advice about safe delivery methods
    Medicines for the baby which will be offered for a few weeks after birth.  Current international evidence suggests that the drug treatment before and after birth causes no harm in babies
    Advice about the safest feeding methods for the baby
  • New Zealand’s AHIVSP commenced from March 2006 in Waikato DHB and will be phased in to all areas over the next 2 years
  • A multidisciplinary Advisory Group has been established to advise on the implementation of New Zealand’s AHIVSP
  • Currently other DHBs are testing some pregnant women identified as higher risk for HIV.