Promoting sexual health in the age of HIV/AIDS

Sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health in women

“…Counseling is both generic and specific to the individual woman's risk assessment. A comprehensive review of the components of identification, counseling, and risk‐reduction strategies for the prevention of HIV infection and other STDs and the promotion of sexual health was detailed in Part I of this Home Study Program (64).…”

Current issues in the midwifery management of women living with HIV/AIDS

“…It is now evident that HIV/AIDS has also become a national disease with an increasing prevalence reported in smaller cities and rural communities (9,10). The reader is referred to an in‐depth summary of modes of HIV‐1 transmission in women that was recently presented in the Journal of Nurse‐Midwifery (JNM) by Kurth (11).…”

“…The practice of universal HIV/AIDS counseling and testing is discussed in depth in a recent issue of JNM (11). Useful times to offer women HIV testing are during routine periodic health visits as well as initial prenatal visits (43).…”

“…Clinical issues in the management of pregnant women living with HIV include: 1) the effects of pregnancy on the progression of HIV disease and a woman's general health, including current antiretroviral recommendations; 2) the effect of this retrovirus on pregnancy during this period of natural immunosuppression; 3) modes of perinatal infection and strategies for prevention of vertical transmission to the fetus and neonate; and 4) specific management implications for pregnancy, labor, and birth, as well as the postpartum period. Issues specifically related to HIV‐specific contraception, risk reduction counseling, and sexuality are covered in other recent JNM articles (11).…”