PERINATAL HIV TRANSMISSION PREVENTION PROGRAM

Perinatal Program | Training | Rapid HIV Testing | Patient Information | Forms and Guidelines | Referral Resources

The USF Center for HIV Education and Research, which houses the Florida/Caribbean AETC, operates the "Perinatal HIV Transmission Prevention Program”. Funded by the Florida Department of Health, the mission of the program is to provide assistance to Florida health care professionals on the prevention and treatment of HIV transmission between mother and child.

An essential component of the program is the distribution of educational materials to health care providers throughout the state. These materials include brochures, posters and online resources designed to inform both providers and their patients about the importance of HIV testing during pregnancy.

Additionally, a team of highly skilled instructors are available throughout Florida to educate health care professionals on the most current treatment options available for reducing perinatal HIV transmission. The goals of the program are to increase the number of health care professionals who include HIV/STD testing as a routine part of prenatal care using the opt-out approach; offer treatment and care according to state and federal guidelines; and offer prevention services to high-risk pregnant women.

In 2004-2005, the project expanded its scope by focusing on the implementation of rapid testing in labor and delivery settings. In 2007-2008 the Perinatal Program will work with statewide Perinatal nurses to assure continuity of care for HIV positive women and their exposed infants.

Over two-thirds of the delivering hospitals in florida have implemented rapid testing in the labor and delivery unit. If your facility has not implemented a rapid testing protocol to comply with Florida Administrative Code-CH.64D-3.042 STD Testing Related to Pregnancy, Please contact the center to access available resources to facilitate this process.

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Remember that One Test Can Save a Baby's Life

Hilda Leon, B.S., R.N.C.
Perinatal HIV Transmission Project Coordinator
Phone: 813-974-3773
E-Mail: hleon@fmhi.usf.edu
Visit our web site at: www.usfcenter.org/perinatal

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