There are several factors that can impact the risk a woman living with HIV will pass HIV to her baby. While some factors increase this risk, there are a number of factors that can significantly reduce the risk of transmission to less than 1% (e.g., testing, treatment, formula feeding, behaviours that support a healthy immune system).
| Increases Risk | Decreases Risk |
|---|---|
|
|
*For mothers who have the following history, a scheduled cesarean section is recommended to limit baby’s exposure to maternal blood and other fluids to decrease the risk of HIV perinatal transmission:
For mothers with an undetectable viral load over the four weeks prior to delivery, a vaginal delivery is the recommended method of delivery as long as there are no other health complications that require a cesarean section.
It is recommended that all pregnant women be offered HIV testing as part of the routine panel of prenatal screening tests. The earlier this testing takes place, the sooner the woman can access HIV treatment and care to help prevent passing HIV to their partners and unborn children. In Saskatchewan, standard tests, self-test kits, and point of care tests are available. For more information on the types of testing available and a list of testing sites, visit the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health’s HIV Testing, Treatment and Support website.
HIV testing can be voluntarily requested or can be offered by a healthcare provider. Saskatchewan currently has an opt-out policy for HIV testing during pregnancy. This means that the HIV test is a part of routine prenatal testing and the pregnant woman being offered the test has the option to decline. With the opt-out strategy, healthcare providers should make sure that the purpose, risks, and benefits of the test are explained to the woman and that she understands her right to refuse the test.
For more information, see the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health’s Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infection (STBBI) Testing Policy.
It is important for a woman who has tested negative during a past pregnancy to be aware of the necessity of having current HIV testing. For a woman who tests negative early in pregnancy but continues to engage in behaviours that pose a risk of HIV exposure, it is recommended that repeat testing be done each trimester and at term. Behaviours that pose a risk of HIV exposure include the following:
Pregnant women at high risk for HIV exposure should be offered pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for use throughout their pregnancy.
It is recommended that mothers living with HIV do not breastfeed their babies. Even if the mother is on HIV medication and has a suppressed viral load, breastfeeding is not recommended because there is still a risk of passing HIV to the baby. Switching between breastfeeding and formula feeding is also not recommended because this increases the risk of the baby getting HIV.
For more detailed information on infant feeding for people living with HIV, read the following booklet created by CATIE. It reflects current guidelines and explains the Canadian recommendation that people living with HIV feed their babies formula. The guide offers tips for people who choose to formula feed, as well as people who choose to breastfeed. Feeding Your Baby | CATIE – Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information.
In Saskatchewan, free formula is available to infants born to mothers living with HIV. For more information, please visit: Infant Formula Program.
The Canadian Pediatric & Perinatal HIV/AIDS Research Group Consensus Recommendations for Infant Feeding in the HIV Context outline a list of criteria that are needed to be met and maintained for women living with HIV to breastfeed as safely as possible. These recommendations also outline scenarios in which it is best for women to stop breastfeeding. As noted above, formula feeding is the recommended method of infant feeding in Canada because it poses no risk for HIV transmission.
Booklets
Guide and Manual, Revised 2020
This guide covers such topics such as HIV/AIDS in Saskatchewan, modes of transmission of HIV, HIV testing during pregnancy, prenatal algorithm, HIV treatment and drug management, after-care for babies of HIV positive women, barriers to HIV transmission prevention and prenatal care, and motivational approaches.
For updated information about HIV/AIDS for health professionals, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/hiv-aids/health-professionals.html.
For updated HIV order sets for Saskatchewan, including maternal and infant order sets, clinical forms, and discharge checklists, visit: https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/intranet/health-provider-resources/clinical-resources/z-list-clinical-resources/maternalchildrens-health-resources/hiv-maternal-and-newborn-clinical-resources.
For updated information about infant feeding recommendations in Canada, including criteria for people living with HIV who want to breastfeed, visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37008587/.
Booklet, 2018
This booklet is designed for people living with HIV who are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant. Topics include basic HIV and HIV treatment information, how to stay healthy before and during pregnancy, unique issues that may face women living with HIV, and where to go for more information and support. The booklet is an update to the previous HIV and pregnancy-related pamphlets provided by the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Videos
This video shares information about HIV, pregnancy, and parenting, with the goal of showing that healthy pregnancies and healthy babies are possible for pregnant women living with HIV in Saskatchewan. The knowledge and experiences of people living with HIV and those that work in this area are shared. The DVD was created as a resource for health and allied health professionals and for people living with HIV in Saskatchewan.
Chapter 4: “Newly Pregnant and Living with HIV”
Information presented in this video regarding clinics and outreach services may be outdated. Please visit the Government of Saskatchewan’s list of HIV-AIDS Support and Counselling Services for current information on community-based organizations funded by the Ministry of Health.
Chapter 6: “Engaging Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Care”
Information presented in this video regarding clinics and outreach services may be outdated. Please visit the Government of Saskatchewan’s list of HIV-AIDS Support and Counselling Services for current information on community-based organizations funded by the Ministry of Health.
Presentations and Courses
Posters
Poster, 2023
This poster explains that for women living with HIV, smoking tobacco during pregnancy can increase the chances that HIV will be passed to the baby. Supports are listed to help pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy to quit or reduce their tobacco use.
Poster, 2022
Saskatchewan has high rates of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections. This poster brings awareness to how these infections can negatively impact pregnancies and shows that both partners have a responsibility to access testing and treatment to reduce the risk of potential harm.
Poster, 2022
HIV can be passed from a pregnant person to their growing baby during pregnancy. This poster brings awareness to the importance of HIV testing, treatment, and prenatal care for the health of pregnant people and their babies.
Poster, 2019
Rates of syphilis have significantly increased in Saskatchewan in the past several years, with areas of the province issuing syphilis alerts and outbreak notices. Women of reproductive age are of particular concern because of the risk for congenital syphilis (syphilis passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or delivery). This poster highlights that syphilis can harm pregnancies and unborn babies, but it is curable. Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to be tested and treated if infected.
Poster, 2019
This poster states that women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This poster was translated to Woodland Cree by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Poster, 2019
This poster states that women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This poster was translated to Plains Cree by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Poster, 2019
This poster states that women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This poster was translated to Dene by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Poster, 2017
This poster highlights the importance of HIV testing as a routine part of prenatal care. With appropriate HIV treatment and care, women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
Poster, 2015
Rates of adolescent pregnancy and STIs in Saskatchewan are among the highest in Canada. Adolescent pregnancy, STIs, and HIV can be prevented with proper contraception use, testing, and treatment. This poster was created to promote further awareness of the need for STI and HIV testing in Saskatchewan and to highlight the importance of contraceptive use.
Reports
Report, Updated 2026
Saskatchewan continues to see high rates of new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in comparison to the rest of Canada. A large number of these new cases are being identified in women of childbearing age.
Recognizing the importance of understanding HIV in the context of pregnancy, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute conducted a review of the literature in this area. The review includes findings and recommendations on perinatal transmission, transmission prevention, barriers to prevention, and health promotion around these topics.
Links
Women living with HIV who do not receive proper treatment have a 15% to 30% chance of passing HIV to their babies. A mother can pass HIV on to her baby in three ways:
Women who are HIV positive and pregnant, or are considering getting pregnant, may face additional challenges. It is important for a pregnant woman living with HIV to find a healthcare provider who is supportive and knowledgeable about HIV and pregnancy. This will result in the best care being given to the mother and baby.
There are several factors that can impact the risk a woman living with HIV will pass HIV to her baby. While some factors increase this risk, there are a number of factors that can significantly reduce the risk of transmission to less than 1% (e.g., testing, treatment, formula feeding, behaviours that support a healthy immune system).
| Increases Risk | Decreases Risk |
|---|---|
|
|
*For mothers who have the following history, a scheduled cesarean section is recommended to limit baby’s exposure to maternal blood and other fluids to decrease the risk of HIV perinatal transmission:
For mothers with an undetectable viral load over the four weeks prior to delivery, a vaginal delivery is the recommended method of delivery as long as there are no other health complications that require a cesarean section.
It is recommended that all pregnant women be offered HIV testing as part of the routine panel of prenatal screening tests. The earlier this testing takes place, the sooner the woman can access HIV treatment and care to help prevent passing HIV to their partners and unborn children. In Saskatchewan, standard tests, self-test kits, and point of care tests are available. For more information on the types of testing available and a list of testing sites, visit the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health’s HIV Testing, Treatment and Support website.
HIV testing can be voluntarily requested or can be offered by a healthcare provider. Saskatchewan currently has an opt-out policy for HIV testing during pregnancy. This means that the HIV test is a part of routine prenatal testing and the pregnant woman being offered the test has the option to decline. With the opt-out strategy, healthcare providers should make sure that the purpose, risks, and benefits of the test are explained to the woman and that she understands her right to refuse the test.
For more information, see the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health’s Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infection (STBBI) Testing Policy.
It is important for a woman who has tested negative during a past pregnancy to be aware of the necessity of having current HIV testing. For a woman who tests negative early in pregnancy but continues to engage in behaviours that pose a risk of HIV exposure, it is recommended that repeat testing be done each trimester and at term. Behaviours that pose a risk of HIV exposure include the following:
Pregnant women at high risk for HIV exposure should be offered pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for use throughout their pregnancy.
It is recommended that mothers living with HIV do not breastfeed their babies. Even if the mother is on HIV medication and has a suppressed viral load, breastfeeding is not recommended because there is still a risk of passing HIV to the baby. Switching between breastfeeding and formula feeding is also not recommended because this increases the risk of the baby getting HIV.
For more detailed information on infant feeding for people living with HIV, read the following booklet created by CATIE. It reflects current guidelines and explains the Canadian recommendation that people living with HIV feed their babies formula. The guide offers tips for people who choose to formula feed, as well as people who choose to breastfeed. Feeding Your Baby | CATIE – Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information.
In Saskatchewan, free formula is available to infants born to mothers living with HIV. For more information, please visit: Infant Formula Program.
The Canadian Pediatric & Perinatal HIV/AIDS Research Group Consensus Recommendations for Infant Feeding in the HIV Context outline a list of criteria that are needed to be met and maintained for women living with HIV to breastfeed as safely as possible. These recommendations also outline scenarios in which it is best for women to stop breastfeeding. As noted above, formula feeding is the recommended method of infant feeding in Canada because it poses no risk for HIV transmission.
Booklets
Guide and Manual, Revised 2020
This guide covers such topics such as HIV/AIDS in Saskatchewan, modes of transmission of HIV, HIV testing during pregnancy, prenatal algorithm, HIV treatment and drug management, after-care for babies of HIV positive women, barriers to HIV transmission prevention and prenatal care, and motivational approaches.
For updated information about HIV/AIDS for health professionals, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/hiv-aids/health-professionals.html.
For updated HIV order sets for Saskatchewan, including maternal and infant order sets, clinical forms, and discharge checklists, visit: https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/intranet/health-provider-resources/clinical-resources/z-list-clinical-resources/maternalchildrens-health-resources/hiv-maternal-and-newborn-clinical-resources.
For updated information about infant feeding recommendations in Canada, including criteria for people living with HIV who want to breastfeed, visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37008587/.
Booklet, 2018
This booklet is designed for people living with HIV who are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant. Topics include basic HIV and HIV treatment information, how to stay healthy before and during pregnancy, unique issues that may face women living with HIV, and where to go for more information and support. The booklet is an update to the previous HIV and pregnancy-related pamphlets provided by the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Videos
This video shares information about HIV, pregnancy, and parenting, with the goal of showing that healthy pregnancies and healthy babies are possible for pregnant women living with HIV in Saskatchewan. The knowledge and experiences of people living with HIV and those that work in this area are shared. The DVD was created as a resource for health and allied health professionals and for people living with HIV in Saskatchewan.
Chapter 1: “Living with HIV”
Chapter 2: “HIV in Pregnancy”
Chapter 4: “Newly Pregnant and Living with HIV”
Information presented in this video regarding clinics and outreach services may be outdated. Please visit the Government of Saskatchewan’s list of HIV-AIDS Support and Counselling Services for current information on community-based organizations funded by the Ministry of Health.
Chapter 6: “Engaging Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Care”
Information presented in this video regarding clinics and outreach services may be outdated. Please visit the Government of Saskatchewan’s list of HIV-AIDS Support and Counselling Services for current information on community-based organizations funded by the Ministry of Health.
Chapter 7: “Hope for Pregnant Women Living with HIV”
Presentations and Courses
Posters
Poster, 2023
This poster explains that for women living with HIV, smoking tobacco during pregnancy can increase the chances that HIV will be passed to the baby. Supports are listed to help pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy to quit or reduce their tobacco use.
Poster, 2022
Saskatchewan has high rates of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections. This poster brings awareness to how these infections can negatively impact pregnancies and shows that both partners have a responsibility to access testing and treatment to reduce the risk of potential harm.
Poster, 2022
HIV can be passed from a pregnant person to their growing baby during pregnancy. This poster brings awareness to the importance of HIV testing, treatment, and prenatal care for the health of pregnant people and their babies.
Poster, 2019
Rates of syphilis have significantly increased in Saskatchewan in the past several years, with areas of the province issuing syphilis alerts and outbreak notices. Women of reproductive age are of particular concern because of the risk for congenital syphilis (syphilis passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or delivery). This poster highlights that syphilis can harm pregnancies and unborn babies, but it is curable. Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to be tested and treated if infected.
Poster, 2019
This poster states that women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This poster was translated to Woodland Cree by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Poster, 2019
This poster states that women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This poster was translated to Plains Cree by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Poster, 2019
This poster states that women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This poster was translated to Dene by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Poster, 2017
This poster highlights the importance of HIV testing as a routine part of prenatal care. With appropriate HIV treatment and care, women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
Poster, 2015
Rates of adolescent pregnancy and STIs in Saskatchewan are among the highest in Canada. Adolescent pregnancy, STIs, and HIV can be prevented with proper contraception use, testing, and treatment. This poster was created to promote further awareness of the need for STI and HIV testing in Saskatchewan and to highlight the importance of contraceptive use.
Reports
Report, Updated 2026
Saskatchewan continues to see high rates of new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in comparison to the rest of Canada. A large number of these new cases are being identified in women of childbearing age.
Recognizing the importance of understanding HIV in the context of pregnancy, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute conducted a review of the literature in this area. The review includes findings and recommendations on perinatal transmission, transmission prevention, barriers to prevention, and health promotion around these topics.
Links