At the first prenatal visit, get the three tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B; if HIV is found, free prevention of mother-to-child transmission is available

At the first prenatal visit, get the three tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B done. The initial HIV screen does not come out of your pocket. A positive result is not a dead end. If HIV is found, the state provides free treatment and counseling. If syphilis is found, treat early with penicillin. If hepatitis B is found, the newborn gets vaccine and immunoglobulin at the same time at birth, which blocks transmission from mother to child.

Cost

HIV counseling and initial screening are free under the regulations. For syphilis and hepatitis B, national documents do not say they are free; ask the prenatal hospital whether they charge

Benefit

Mother-to-child transmission means the disease passing from mother to child. The Work Specifications for Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B (2020 Edition) set requirements. At the first prenatal checkup, the hospital must give relevant information, “provide appropriate, standardized testing, and provide follow-up counseling based on the results.” If the status is still unclear before delivery, treat the person as infected in principle. The specifications require that pregnant women found to have syphilis “receive standardized penicillin treatment as early as possible,” and that the newborn get preventive penicillin right after birth. For pregnant women positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, those who meet the criteria may receive antiviral treatment after informed consent. A positive result is not a dead end. Article 23 of the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS states that people who voluntarily accept HIV counseling and testing are “provided free counseling and initial screening.” Article 44 requires free “treatment and counseling to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV” for pregnant women infected with HIV. Article 43 requires services such as blocking transmission (keeping the disease from the child), treatment, postpartum visits, and infant follow-up and testing. When the mother is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, the newborn must receive hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin at the same time at birth (see Section 20, Item 2)

Notes

The earlier these three are checked, the more useful they are, because blocking and treatment both take time. Article 3 of the HIV/AIDS regulations also states that “no unit or individual may discriminate against people living with HIV, AIDS patients, or their family members”; lawful rights in marriage, work, medical care, and schooling are protected. Everyday prevention and testing are in Section 1. Post-exposure prophylaxis after high-risk behavior is in Section 13

Sources · 1

1. 国家卫生健康委办公厅 (2020). 预防艾滋病、梅毒和乙肝母婴传播工作规范（2020 年版）. wjw.xinjiang.gov.cn/hfpc/zhgl6/202012/08b7de4…（新疆维吾尔自治区卫生健康委员会转载）；国务院 (2006). 艾滋病防治条例（第二十三、四十三、四十四条）. wjw.beijing.gov.cn/zwgk_20040/zcwj2022/flfg/2…（北京市卫生健康委员会转载）