HIV infection is not a barrier to pregnancy and childbirth, says the Head of prevention department of the National Center for AIDS Prevention of Armenian Health Ministry Janeta Petrosyan.

«Yet, it is necessary to remember, that there is a risk of transmission of HIV infection from mother to the child. Certain preventive measures allow minimizing the risk of infection, and thanks to antiretroviral treatment and a healthy lifestyle parents living with HIV can be a long time in good health and fully care for and educate their children», - she told NEWS.am Medicine.

According to the doctor, without taking preventive measures the probability of HIV transmission from mother to child is 25-45%. «In compliance with all components of prevention risk of transmission can be reduced to 1-2%, i.e. in 98-99% of cases, a woman living with HIV can have an uninfected child», - she said.

In order to reduce the risk of infection to a minimum it is necessary to carry out complex measures, like: taking prophylactic antiretroviral treatment (ARV) by mother during her pregnancy and childbirth, birth by caesarean section, made on the 38th week of pregnancy, avoidance of breastfeeding, treatment of the newborn with ARV preparations (Syrups).