Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the health-related Millennium Development Goals: time for a public health approach

Schouten, E. J., Jahn, A., Midiani, D., Makombe, S. D., Mnthambala, A., Chirwa, Z., ... & Chimbwandira, F. (2011). Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the health-related Millennium Development Goals: time for a public health approach. The Lancet, 378(9787), 282-284.

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, particularly in Malawi and discusses how the country is preparing to revise its policies for PMTCT of HIV and for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in response to WHO's 2010 guidelines. The authors propose offering all HIV-infected pregnant women lifelong ART, which they see as a more feasible alternative to WHO's guidelines in addition to being more ethical. The article also describes the various benefits of their proposed plan and estimates the results and costs associated.