The Vital Role of Public Health Nurses in Perinatal HIV Prevention and Elimination.

Perinatal HIV transmission remains a significant public health challenge, with an estimated 160,000 children newly infected with HIV each year. Public health nurses play a critical role in the prevention and elimination of perinatal HIV transmission through targeted interventions such as identification of pregnant women with HIV, referral and linkage to care, provision of antiretroviral therapy, and follow-up and retention in care for both mothers and infants. However, significant barriers to successful implementation exist, including stigma and discrimination, limited access to healthcare services, socioeconomic factors, and limited resources.