Pennsylvania is stepping up its efforts to reach women of childbearing age to get tested for HIV. Earlier this month, the department of health launched an aggressive television campaign that stresses the need for pregnant women to know their HIV/AIDS status. The effort is part of the health department's bigger 1999 Perinatal HIV campaign that uses radio ads, print ads, brochures and several training workshops.
The 30-second commercial shows mothers and fathers and enumerates a list of traits children inherit from their parents, like eye and hair color. The ad concludes with a dire reminder that children also can inherit the deadly HIV virus from their parents. The campaign is airing in media markets that have the state's highest concentration of HIV/AIDS cases, including Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, York and Erie.
Recent HIV/AIDS trends highlight the need for heightened outreach efforts that promote testing. For instance:
- Without treatment, approximately one in three babies born to HIV-infected mothers will inherit the virus.
- However, new perinatal treatment options, like AZT, improve these odds to one in 10.
- Since 1981, there have been approximately 300 diagnosed and reported cases of pediatric AIDS among children 12 and under in Pennsylvania.
More than 300 state-supported sites offer voluntary testing.
(Pa. Department of Health, George Yanoshik, 717/787-1783)