Objective:

To reflect about vertical transmission of HIV in the context of health promotion and nursing care.

Summary of content:

This is a reflection paper based on a literature search of articles and publications for the subject of Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. The following descriptors were used: Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, HIV, Health Promotion and Health Education. Within the context in which health promotion is conceived as disease prevention, there are several nursing interventions involved in the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV process, encompassing both pre-pregnancy caring for the HIV-positive woman and prenatal, delivery, and postpartum caring for the HIV-exposed child. It was found that educational actions are of vital importance to promotion of health in the context of the vertical transmission of HIV, in as much as they contribute to establish a dialogical relation between nurses and HIV-positive women, which aims to empower them.

Conclusion:

This paper contributes to nurses to reflect about their practice and to carry out care functions in order to promote health of this public in individual, ethical, and effective manner. This sort of care must cover actual health issues of HIV-positive woman, ensuring them integral, humanized, and determining care, in accordance with their own specific conditions.

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