Follow up
Q.56 What should a health worker counsel a mother who learns that her infant is HIV negative at a 6-week test?
A negative test at 6 weeks is an opportunity to encourage the mother to continue to practise her feeding method and adhere to treatment/prophylaxis. It is not a reason to change feeding practice. If the mother is breastfeeding, the health worker can use this as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, as well as the importance of continuing to take ARVs and to give them to her baby consistently. Family planning counselling may be given at this visit.