Prevention of mother-to-child transmission
The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is a highly effective HIV prevention intervention that has a huge potential to improve maternal and child health.
In response to the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) and the PMTCT High-level Global Partners Forum, governments have made commitments to decrease the proportion of infants infected by HIV and to achieve elimination of paediatric HIV.
To prevent mother-to-child transmission, WHO promotes a comprehensive approach that includes the following four components:
- primary prevention of HIV infection among women of childbearing age;
- prevention of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV;
- prevention of HIV transmission from a women living with HIV to her infant; and
- provision of appropriate treatment, care and support to mothers living with HIV and their children and families.
Progress has been made in expanding PMTCT in the Western Pacific Region. For example, more pregnant women are being tested for HIV as shown in the table below.
| Country | Annual number of births per 1000 | ANC Coverage (%) | HIV Testing (%) |
| Cambodia | 361 | 44.4 | 29 |
| China | 18 134 | 90.14 | 8 |
| Malaysia | 551 | 60.2 | 75 |
| PNG | 207 | 58 | 22 |
| Viet Nam | 1494 | 96.1 | 24 |