HIV campaign among women vital
HIV campaign among women vital
By Stevie Emilia
JAKARTA (JP): All mothers would be devastated to hear their
babies have tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV), especially if their children contracted the virus which
leads to AIDS from them.
Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is commonplace in
developing countries, including Indonesia. It is estimated that
this route of transmission accounts for 5 percent to 10 percent
of total new infections each year in developing countries.
It covers 14 percent to 42 percent of the total number of
infections in different regions. European countries have the
lowest rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission at 14 percent,
and the United States and Thailand both have 25 percent. Africa
has the highest rate.
In Indonesia, the government reports there are six HIV-
positive babies, with the first recorded in 1996. Experts warn
the actual figures may be significantly higher.
Samsuridjal Djauzi of Pelita Ilmu Foundation, a non-
governmental organization on AIDS prevention, said the real
figures was likely to be higher because 293 out of 839 people
with HIV/AIDS reported up to February this year were women in
their reproductive years.
Pelita Ilmu, he said, was in touch with 10 expectant mothers
with HIV.
"I suspect there's not many expectant mothers who are seeking
consultation on their pregnancies," Samsuridjal said. "Even
worse, many of them are afraid to undergo testing and
counseling."
With sophisticated tests, the HIV status of a fetus can be
identified in one or two weeks.
He underlined the need to inform the public that pregnant
women from high-risk groups should undergo HIV testing -- and
receive counseling if they are positive.
Apart from the lack of information, many Indonesian women,
like their counterparts in other developing countries, also do
not have access to testing and counseling services, he added.
"Besides, the cost of HIV testing is still considered too
high."
The test and counseling cost about Rp 50,000.
Many NGOs, including Pelita Ilmu, have assisted with free
testing and counseling in some of their campaign activities. It
remains limited.
Samsuridjal said research showed mother-to-child transmission
of HIV -- which mostly occurs prenatally at the time of labor but
can occur after birth -- was preventable.
"Intervention which has proved useful to reduce mother-to-
child transmission significantly includes the use of
antiretroviral (drugs), no breast-feeding or performing
caesareans for delivery," he said.
In developed countries, he said, the measures have been
implemented with satisfactory results. In the U.S., according to
the UNAIDS, the rate of mother-to-child transmission HIV was
reduced to 500 babies annually in 1997.
In developing countries such as Indonesia, the measures are
difficult to implement.
According to Samsuridjal, the main obstacle is the assumption
of many expectant mothers that HIV cannot touch their lives.
"Many still think that HIV will only affect certain groups,
like sex workers, homosexuals and unfaithful housewives. That
perception makes expectant mothers' awareness of the danger of
HIV infection very low."
Husbands sometimes bar their pregnant wives from finding out
their HIV status.
He said counseling allowed prospective mothers to gain the
right information on HIV and AIDS, and judge whether she or her
husband was engaged in high-risk behavior.
"After counseling, she can decide whether she needs to undergo
HIV testing or not."
In support of its programs to prevent prenatal transmission of
HIV and to provide counseling on the deadly disease, Pelita Ilmu
received a US$30,000 health care grant from manufacturer and
supplier of medical devices and diagnostic systems, Becton
Dickinson and Company.
The grant was presented by president of Becton Asia Pacific
region, Eugenio Naschold, to the foundation's chairman Zubairi
Djoerban on Tuesday.
According to Zubairi, the funding will be used to inform,
counsel and test 1,000 expectant mothers in Jakarta.
"We will provide support to those women who are HIV positive
and prevent prenatal transmission by providing AZT tablets. We
also will educate health care workers ..."
Samsuridjal said the foundation would assist expecting HIV-
positive women by providing them with five 100 mg capsules of AZT
a day for four weeks before giving birth.
"But when they are about to give birth, we will increase the
dose to suppress HIV. At that time, the expectant mothers should
take 300 milligrams of AZT every three hours," he said.
A box of 100 capsules of 100 mg of AZT, he said, sold for
about Rp 500,000.
"Apart from assisting the mothers, the foundation will provide
artificial milk for the child for a year as breast-feeding can
transmit the virus," Samsuridjal said.