Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) continues to play a vital role in the response to HIV/AIDS: Current status and future perspectives

Abstract

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program offer a range of services for women of reproductive age living with or at risk of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in order to maintain their health and to protect their infants from acquiring HIV. The program has made significant progress in eliminating HIV. Thanks to the provision of PMTCT services, around 1.4 million HIV infections among children were prevented between 2010 and 2018. PMTCT program in China has developed substantially over the past few years, highlighting the national response to HIV/AIDS. Although huge strides have been made in PMTCT, a number of important issues, such as prevention at each step, monitoring of PMTCT services, and early infant diagnosis, need to be addressed in the future.