HIV INFECTION AND THE SITUATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN: 2024 REGIONAL STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Аннотация

This article analyzes the detection, prevention, and statistics of HIV infection among pregnant women in the region for the year 2024. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. To reduce the risk of virus transmission, prenatal screening, antiretroviral therapy, and special measures during delivery are crucial. In theregion, 100%of pregnant women underwent HIV testing, with the number ofnewly detected cases remaining stable. Infection spread is moreprominent incertain areas, with migration and sexual partners playing significant roles. The regional healthcare system conducts systematic monitoring of pregnant women and their families, implementing measures to reduce vertical HIV transmission. The article emphasizes the importance of strengthening prevention efforts toensure a healthy generation. Keywords: HIV, pregnancy, mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral therapy, prenatal screening, vertical transmission, HIV prevention, sexual partners, migration, regional statistics, healthcare, pregnant women, HIV infection, medical monitoring, viral load reduction Relevance of the Topic: Detection and prevention of HIV infection during pregnancy is a crucial issue for public health and the well-being of future generations. Mother-to-child transmission of the virus can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. The effectiveness of treatment and preventive measures plays akey roleinreducing thespread of the virus. The stability of HIV infection cases across the region and the increase in some areas demand strengthening prevention efforts. Therefore, comprehensive screening, timely treatment, and medical supervision of pregnant women are vital to ensure the birth of healthy offspring, making thistopicboth urgent and apriority. HIV during pregnancy refers to the presence of HIV/AIDS infection in a pregnant woman. Therisk ofmother-to-child transmission existsprimarily in three stages: pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. This issue is significant because appropriate medical interventions can substantially reduce the risk of virus transmission, while untreated HIV/AIDS can lead to severe illness and death in both mother and child. For example, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that between 2014 and 2017, among 10,257 infants born in the United States and Puerto Rico, mother-to-child transmission was preventable with proper prenatal care. The severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, including mother-to-child transmission, disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, particularly those in Southern Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that annually, 1.3 million women andgirls livingwith HIV becomepregnant. 98,7:ROTCAFTCAPMI .SECNEICSLACIDEM,5202,yaM,5emuloV gro.srehsilbupcimedaca.www Appropriate prenatal screening, treatment of HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy (ART), and adherence to postpartum recommendations significantly reduce the risk of neonatal HIV infection and maternal complications. It is important to emphasize that without antiretroviral drugs, obstetric intervention, and breastfeeding guidelines, the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission is approximately 30%. When the aforementioned measures are implemented, thisrisk decreases to less than 1%. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends HIV testing as a routine part of pre-pregnancy and first-trimester prenatal care to ensure timely andappropriateinterventions. Women living with HIV may choose to become pregnant if they wish, but it is recommended that they consult with their healthcare providers beforehand. Notably, 20– 34% of women living with HIV in the United States are unaware of their diagnosis until they become pregnant orundergo prenatal screening. HIV can be transmitted from an infected mother to her newborn in three ways: during pregnancy (in utero) through the placenta, during childbirth through contact with infected maternal blood and genital secretions, or postpartum through breastfeeding. This type of viral transmissionis also called vertical transmission. Mother-to-child HIV transmission most often occurs during delivery when the infant comes into direct contact with infected maternal blood or genital secretions in the birth canal. Treating the mother with ART before delivery reduces the viral load in her blood and other bodily fluids, significantly lowering the likelihood of transmitting the virus to the infant during birth. The clinical presentation ofHIV in untreated infants is more severe and distinct compared to adults. It is important to note that if HIV is diagnosed early and appropriate treatment is provided, symptoms and complications in the infant occur less frequently. Without ART therapy, infants born with HIV haveapoor prognosis. If symptoms develop, the most common signs include persistent fever, generalized lymphadenopathy (swelling of lymph nodes), enlar