Portugal expands antenatal HIV-testing:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Portuguese health ministry has launched a new campaign to promote HIV testing among women who are pregnant or intend to conceive, in order to reduce the risk of maternal transmission. The initiative is backed by plans to open eight HIV advice and early-detection centres (CADs) by the end of 2002, bringing the number to 20. The first of these new centres will be opened next week in Porto. The others will be based in Almada, Beja, Evora, Portalegre, Santarem, Viana do Castelo and a mobile unit in Lisbon. Early detection can cut the risk of maternal transmission to around 2%. Over 300 women were diagnosed with AIDS in 2001. Of the 112,000 births that year, only one baby was born HIV positive, compared to 11 in 1999.