HIV and Pregnancy

Term Paper # 93231

Medical and Health > Medical Studies
Medical and Health > Nursing

HIV and Pregnancy

An overview of HIV care of pregnant women through a case study.

2,298 words () | 20 sources | MLA | 2006 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a case study of a woman for whom the author has been providing care for during the past year within clinical placements. It analyzes the care with reference to Lesley Page's "Five Steps of Evidence Based Midwifery Practice" (Appendix 1). It also discusses the issues surrounding HIV pregnant women and takes a look at complications that may arise.

From the Paper:

"After the initial meeting with Jean and David we felt that providing them with more detailed information about options for feeding their baby would enable them to be fully informed of the facts and in a position to make a decision based on the best available evidence. The HIV virus can be transmitted from mother to baby via the placenta whilst inutero, at delivery and through breastfeeding. This is known as 'vertical transmission' (Kennedy, 2003, p.38). In the United Kingdom over 300 babies are born annually to women infected with the HIV virus (RCM, 1998). Of these babies three quarters are born to women who are undiagnosed at the time of delivery (RCM, 1998) and consequently do not benefit from management options that can limit the risk of transmission-drug regimes for both mother and baby, delivery methods and avoiding breastfeeding (RCM, 1998)."

Sample of Sources Used:

BOSELEY, S., 2002. HIV girl to be brought back to UK. The Guardian [online], 4 May, p. 14. Available from:http://www.newsuk.co.uk/newsuk/advancedSearchDisplavRecord.do?SortType=reverseChro nological&PageS!ze=25&ltemNumber=98&QueryType=quickSearch [Accessed 8 March 2006]
COUTSOUDIS, A., PILLAY, K., SPOONER, E., KUHN, L. AND COOVADIA, H., 1999. Influence of infant-feeding patterns on early mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in Durban, South Africa: a prospective cohort study. The Lancet [online], 354(9177). Available from: http://www.thelancet.com/iournals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673699011010/fulltext [Accessed 8 March 2006].
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 2004. HIV and Infant Feeding: Guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officer's Expert Advisory Group on AIDS [online]. Available from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/98/93/04089893.pdf [Accessed 8 March 2006].
DUNN, D.T., NEWELL, M.L., ADES, A.E., AND PECKHAM, C.S., 1992. Estimates of the risk of HIV-1 transmission through breastfeeding. The Lancet, 340(8819), 585-588.
KENNEDY, J., 2003. HIV in Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2nd ed. United Kingdom: Books for Midwives.