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What Works for Women and Girls

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as a result of the potential to prejudice treatment options <strong>for</strong> mothers <strong>and</strong> transmit nevirapineresistance to their infants (Kiptoo et al., 2008).Starting ARVs Early in Pregnancy Can Improve Pregnant <strong>Women</strong>’s Health <strong>and</strong>Reduce Vertical TransmissionIn November 2009, the WHO released new recommendations <strong>for</strong> the use of ARVs in pregnantwomen. These guidelines recommend lifelong antiretroviral drug regimens <strong>for</strong> womenwho need ARVs to protect their own health (based on severe or advanced clinical disease orwith the CD4 count at or below 350 cells/mm3, regardless of symptoms) <strong>and</strong> short-term prophylacticregimens to decrease the risk of HIV transmission to the baby during pregnancy, labor<strong>and</strong> delivery <strong>and</strong> throughout the breastfeeding period (based on CD4 cell counts above 350 or<strong>for</strong> women who do not require ARVs <strong>for</strong> their own health). Short-term prophylactic regimensdelivered to the baby during delivery <strong>and</strong> the breastfeeding period (should the mother chooseto breastfeed) are also recommended <strong>and</strong> will be discussed in the Delivery <strong>and</strong> Postpartumsections of this document. Of note, the recommendation <strong>for</strong> initiating ARV treatment <strong>for</strong>pregnant women has been raised from a CD4 count of

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