Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies: Childbirth Classes for HIV-Positive Pregnant Women

Issues: Comprehensive prenatal care for HIV-positive pregnant women can decrease the risk of perinatal HIV transmission, increase optimal management of HIV disease, provide opportunities for screening for postpartum depression, and promote positive parenting skills.

Description: A university-affiliated urban HIV health center that provides clinical treatment for HIV-positive pregnant women developed a comprehensive childbirth education curriculum – delivered from first trimester to one year postpartum – to educate women about pregnancy, labor, delivery, parenting and how to manage HIV. Topics covered included infant care, parenting, acceptance of HIV diagnosis, disclosing HIV status, fathering skills, financial management, and postpartum depression. Goals were to promote and support positive, healthy behaviors, increase general knowledge about pregnancy, parenting, and HIV disease management, and decrease risks of perinatal transmission. Assessments of mothers' knowledge, goals, behaviors, and emotional status were conducted with analysis to allow the medical team to evaluate barriers to medication adherence, understanding of HIV transmission, and depression risks.

Lessons Learned: Assessments helped to identify issues of concern for the women, and allow medical team to provide assistance and interventions as needed. The classes became a support group for the women, which facilitated increased engagement in medical care. Participants had low rates of missed prenatal visits and there were no perinatal transmissions.

Recommendations: Specialty classes for HIV-positive women can increase their understanding of the importance of adherence to HIV medications, the continuation of medications for their own health after delivery, and ultimately, engagement in follow up care for their own care.