Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission is a crucial aspect of HIV/AIDS prevention and control. HIV can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, or breastfeeding. However, if the mother is diagnosed early, receives the correct ARV treatment regimen, and the child receives preventive treatment and early diagnostic testing, the risk of transmission can be significantly reduced. Thanks to effective interventions and preventive treatment to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, Lang Son province has maintained positive results over the years, with 100% of HIV-infected pregnant women receiving preventive treatment and 100% of children born healthy and free from HIV transmission from their mothers.
Ms. Hoang Thi Dang, Head of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department at the Provincial Center for Disease Control, stated: "In preventing HIV transmission from mother to child, the most important thing is not to miss the testing period during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman is found to be HIV-positive, healthcare workers will provide counseling for ARV treatment, coordinate with obstetric facilities to monitor the pregnancy, and prepare for prophylactic treatment for the child immediately after birth."
The province currently has 6 ARV outpatient clinics with a total of 856 patients. Here, patients receive health monitoring and treatment adherence counseling; pregnant women infected with HIV are given prophylactic treatment according to the correct regimen, minimizing the risk of medication interruption during pregnancy. Ms. HTH, from Dong Kinh ward, shared: "Initially, when I learned about my health condition, I was very worried, especially about the impact on my child. After the doctor advised and explained the effectiveness of the treatment, I felt more at ease, adhered to my medication regimen, attended appointments on time, and followed instructions to protect my child. Earlier this year, I gave birth to a healthy baby who tested negative for HIV."
Not only HIV-infected women, but also pregnant women visiting health facilities in the province for prenatal checkups receive information and counseling on HIV testing to proactively detect and begin treatment early, minimizing the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child. From the beginning of 2026 to the present, health facilities throughout the province have provided direct communication on HIV/AIDS prevention and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission to nearly 8,500 people, and conducted 240 group communication sessions for over 15,700 people.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Nghiep, Head of the HIV-AIDS Disease Control Department at Cao Loc Regional Health Center, said: The ARV outpatient clinic at Cao Loc Regional Health Center currently manages 572 patients. In addition to counseling patients, doctors also coordinate with the Reproductive and Obstetrics & Gynecology Department to promote and encourage pregnant women to undergo HIV screening tests during pregnancy. This is one of the necessary tests in pregnancy management. If the result is negative, pregnant women feel more at ease; if it is unfortunately found to be positive, early treatment will help protect the mother's health and minimize the risk of transmission to the child. Thanks to thorough counseling, most pregnant women agree to undergo the test.
Together with the Cao Loc District Health Center, health facilities in the area have been disseminating information and providing counseling to pregnant women about getting tested for HIV to proactively detect and treat the disease early. From the beginning of 2026 to the present, more than 3,600 pregnant women in the province have been tested for HIV.
Preventive measures are not limited to mothers; they continue to be implemented for newborns. Children born to HIV-infected mothers must receive preventive treatment, health monitoring, and early diagnostic testing. According to the Provincial Center for Disease Control, in 2025, the province recorded 11 HIV-infected pregnant women giving birth, with all 11 children receiving preventive treatment to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, and 100% of the newborns receiving preventive treatment and testing negative for HIV. From the beginning of 2026 to the present, the province has recorded 3 HIV-infected pregnant women giving birth; all 3 pregnant women received preventive treatment to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, and all 3 children born received preventive treatment.
Towards the goal of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2030, in the coming period, health facilities in the province will continue to maintain "checkpoints" through HIV testing for pregnant women, strengthen counseling at prenatal care facilities, connect HIV-infected pregnant women to ARV treatment early, and ensure that children born to HIV-infected mothers receive preventive treatment and early diagnostic testing.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/chan-duong-lay-tu-thai-ky-5096139.html
