HIV INFECTIONS AND CHILD BIRTH

LIFE WITH HIV/AIDS BEFORE AND AFTER CHILD BIRTH

Vulnerable mothers who are infected with HIV/AIDs in the poor communities of urban Kampala live healthily each day with HIV negative babies. This is so because Kayden Foundation Uganda offers aid and support to these vulnerable so as they can be de-stigmatized, empowered and encourage to build and develop their families while they are taking great care of themselves healthily.

Kayden Foundation gives vulnerable mothers a chance to uplift themselves through offering; entrepreneurial skills(tailoring and making liquid soap), financial management skills, medical aid and information, sexual reproductive health training and information such as one provided in the coming paragraphs.

Treatments during pregnancy and breastfeeding tremendously help stop the passing of the HIV/AIDs virus to the infant baby. Taking antiretroviral treatment properly during pregnancy means that vulnerable women with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and giving birth healthy with HIV negative children.

HIV is a virus that can cause an HIV infection if it gets into the blood stream.  It then goes on to infect the immune system. It does this by entering CD4 cells so that our immune system can’t find and destroy it. Then it makes copies of itself so it can go on to infect other cells. This is termed as the HIV lifecycle and it is how the virus multiplies in our body.

Taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) is the only way to interrupt the HIV lifecycle and stay healthy.

 

HOW TO KNOW WHETHER A VULNERABLE PREGNANT MOTHER HAS CONTRACTED HIV/AIDs

For a vulnerable mother to identify if she has HIV/ AIDs, she ought to get tested. With Kayden Foundation’s assistance, attending antenatal appointments though a MUST is made easy, as this is how one can get an HIV/ AIDs test. A healthcare professional will offer a test: at the first appointment, in the third trimester (from 28 weeks), and after delivery of the child.

If the result is positive, antiretroviral treatment should be taken as soon as possible.

Swallowing the correct treatment dosage during pregnancy and while breastfeeding decreases the risk of spreading HIV/AIDs to the baby to almost zero. Limited treatment results into a 15 – 45% chance of spreading HIV/AIDs on to the baby through: pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

 

PRECAUTIONS BEFORE A VULNERABLE MOTHER/PERSON CONTRACTS AN HIV INFECTION

PEP or post-exposure prophylaxis is an emergency treatment given to the patient after possible exposure to HIV to prevent contraction of the HIV infection. PEP can be taken by anyone who has been at risk of contracting HIV/AIDs through sexual intercourse, sharing needles or occupational exposure. It is not useful for people who have HIV already.

If a person thinks that they’ve been exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours, then they may be able to get PEP. It’s a course of treatment that one takes for 28 days.

PrEP, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis is taken before exposure to the virus. Though both PEP and PrEP are useful to prevent HIV/AIDs infections, they are not meant to be used long-term.

PEP must be taken less than 72 hours after one thinks to have been exposed to HIV/AIDs. It is most effective if taken within 24 hours, though for 72 hours, one risks suffering from the infection.

PEP is safe and not everyone will have side effects. But some people may experience: nausea, diarrhea, headaches, tiredness and generally feeling unwell.

If such side effects are experienced, a talk with a healthcare worker should be in order. Thus, these effects should not stop a person from completing their PEP dose, otherwise it may not work.

 

Where can PEP be got?

According to Kayden foundation Uganda, PEP isn’t available everywhere, so intensive research online can yield results of where to access this medicine nearby. PEP is only available from healthcare clinics or doctors, or sometimes the emergency department of a hospital.