Mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Globally, an estimated 1.3 million women and girls living with HIV become pregnant each year. In the absence of intervention, the rate of transmission of HIV from a mother living with HIV to her child during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding ranges from 15% to 45%. As such, identification of HIV infection should be immediately followed by an offer of linkage to lifelong treatment and care, including support to remain in care and virally suppressed and an offer of partner services. 

In 2019, 85% of women and girls globally had access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT).  However, high ART coverage levels do not reflect the continued transmission that occurs after women are initially counted as receiving treatment. Achieving retention in care and prevention of incident HIV infections in uninfected populations remain high priorities to reach global elimination targets. Since the global shift to, and accelerated rollout of, highly effective, simplified interventions based on lifelong ART for pregnant women living with HIV, virtual elimination of MTCT – also known as vertical transmission – has been shown to be feasible. 

Elimination of MTCT of HIV is strongly supported by global commitments and the promotion of integration of prevention of MTCT interventions into maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services, as well as strengthened health systems. In addition, improved access to sexual and reproductive health services – including preventing unintended pregnancies and screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections in women and girls living with HIV – is being actively promoted.

The integration of interventions has led to the Triple Elimination Initiative, which not only promotes person-centered care, but also reduces incidence, morbidity and mortality. The initiative also strengthens disease monitoring through the use of strategic information for response planning. 

WHO continues to work in this area, supporting countries to improve and better monitor interventions towards ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.