Preventing HIV during pregnancy and breastfeeding in the context of PrEP

Overview

 PrEP could complement established HIV prevention strategies for pregnant and breastfeeding women as part of a comprehensive package to reduce HIV infections among women and transmission from mothers to infants in settings with high HIV incidence.

This technical brief seeks to:

• Summarise existing data on safety and efficacy for the use of oral PrEP in pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as women who conceive while taking PrEP.
• Describe the rationale for offering PrEP as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention package that is integrated with PMTCT, antenatal and postnatal care programmes in settings of high HIV incidence.
• Discuss considerations for offering PrEP for safer conception.
• Outline a framework to strengthen HIV prevention during the antenatal and postnatal period for mothers, their partners and infants.