Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - Saturday, December 22, 2001
Anjira Assavanonda
The epidemiology survey's result has prompted the ministry to expand its care and treatment of HIV-positive mothers to prolong their lives after they give birth.
Dr Siriporn Kanshana, director of the Health Services Department's Health Promotion Bureau, said that unless a prevention programme was developed for HIV-positive mothers, there would be a large number of HIV-positive children with many dying before their fifth birthday.
The majority of HIV-positive pregnant women first learned they were infected after becoming pregnant.
Dr Siriporn said most HIV-positive mothers stopped seeing doctors after giving birth with many returning only when the disease had developed into Aids or after experiencing opportunistic infections.
Provincial health officials yesterday attended a workshop aimed at developing a programme to expand HIV care and treatment for families.
The report presented at the workshop also revealed about 250,000 Thai women are HIV-positive.
The ministry's prevention programmes had reduced the mother-to-child transmission rate from 25-30% to 6-8%. But since the health of HIV-positive mothers was usually weakened after giving birth, a number of them died before their child's first birthday.
Under the plan, HIV-positive mothers will be counselled by health-care providers on how to care for themselves. Mothers would also have regular care and treatment, including CD-4 cell counts, access to anti-retroviral drugs, and other remedies to prevent opportunistic infections.
A pilot project is being carried out in in Rayong and Chiang Rai.
A national programme is expected to be in place next year at primary care units and state provincial and community hospitals.
011222
BP011209
Copyright © 2001 - The Bangkok Post. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Bangkok Post.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .