VERTICAL TRANSMISSION OF HIV IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL.

Worldwide, millions of children are estimated to have been infected with HIV through mother to child transmission (MTCT). However, in some settings, antenatal screening for HIV infection, proper management with antiretroviral drugs, obstetrical interventions, and avoidance of breastfeeding have reduced the risk of MTCT to less than 2%. In Brazil, pregnant women have been offered HIV testing since 1996. Those found to be HIV seropositive have been offered perinatal transmission prophylaxis with zidovudine according to the ACTG 076 protocol.