Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV accounts for over 3% of all new HIV infections among Iranians, said Mohammad Mahdi Guya, head of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the Health Ministry. “The 4th National Aids Plan which is being implemented across the country includes prevention of mother-to-child transmission program,” IRNA quoted him as saying. The program provides antiretroviral treatment to HIV-positive pregnant women. Without treatment, the likelihood of HIV passing from mother-to-child is 15% to 45%. However, antiretroviral treatment and other effective MTCT interventions can reduce this risk to below 5%, he added. HIV can be transmitted from an HIV-positive woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
