LONDON (AP) - All pregnant women in Britain will be offered HIV
tests in an attempt to reduce the number of babies infected
with the AIDS virus, the government announced Friday.
The test will be recommended to expectant mothers as part of
their routine prenatal screening, Health Minister Tessa Jowell
said. At least half of all pregnant women will be expected to
be tested by next year and up to 90 percent by 2002, Ms. Jowell
said.
Each year, at least 50 HIV-infected babies are born in Britain
to mothers unaware of their own infection. In 1997, the most
recent year for which figures are available, 265 HIV-positive
women gave birth, resulting in 62 infected babies.
The Labor government has set a target of reducing the number of
children with HIV by 80 percent by 2002.
"Once women are aware of their infection, all the evidence
points to them accepting measures which together will reduce
the risk of transmission of infection to their babies from one
in six to less than one in 20," Ms. Jowell said.
Measures to reduce the risk include the use of certain drugs
during and after pregnancy, as well as delivery by Caesarean
section and using a bottle instead of breastfeeding.
Professional groups generally welcomed the government's
announcement, but said they hoped it would be made clear to
mothers that the HIV test is optional and that proper
counseling and support would be offered to women who test
positive.