Perinatal HIV Transmission Prevention

Each year approximately 144 to 236 infants in the United States acquire HIV infection through perinatal transmission, and about 40 percent of these infants' mothers were not tested until birth or later. Through support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HRET is using a national approach tailored to local needs to increase the number of hospitals that are implementing and sustaining programs of perinatal HIV prevention, especially using rapid screening tests in labor and delivery for women with undocumented HIV status.

In 2010-2012, the project will:

• Conduct state-specific, one-day workshops for hospitals to increase HIV testing and prevent mother-to-child transmission. To view slide sets from the workshops, go here.
• Develop and implement an online perinatal HIV guide, in conjunction with CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Francois Xavier Bagnoud Center
• Launch three Learning Collaboratives for hospitals focused on engaging physicians in perinatal HIV testing and linking infected patients to care.
• Conduct two audio conferences
• Develop and disseminate tools on HIV testing costs and reimbursement. A new toolkit to assess HIV testing costs and reimbursement can be accessed here.
• Assist in facilitating the work of the National Perinatal HIV Stakeholders.

For more information about this project, contact

For more information, contact Awo Osei-Anto, Researcher, Health Research & Educational Trust, hanto@aha.org or (312) 422-2642.