[Obstetric procedures in HIV infection].

When counselling an HIV-seropositive pregnant woman, one must consider both the fate of the mother in relation to pregnancy-induced effects on the HIV infection and the development rate of the transplacental infection to the child. The difficulties in correctly diagnosing HIV infection in the newborn are discussed; it is estimated that in about 30% of cases the fetus becomes infected. Factors which may influence the risk of infection to the child are the mother's immunological status, the time interval since the mother was first infected, the mode of delivery, and breastfeeding.