3. Mother-to-child transmission

A mother infected with HIV has a 15% to 40% chance of passing the virus to her child during pregnancy, laboring or breast-feeding. If the infected mother and the new born baby receive early and appropriate treatment such as antiretroviral therapies during pregnancy, laboring and after birth respectively, the chance of infecting the baby can be reduced by two-third.

Universal antenatal HIV testing

The universal antenatal HIV testing programme has been implemented in Hong Kong since September 2001. HIV screening is now available free-of-charge to all expectant mothers attending the Maternal and Child Health Clinics of the Department of Health and antenatal clinics of the Hospital Authority. The early detection and prompt intervention, including antiretroviral therapies, can help reduce the chance of mother-to-child transmission.