National HIV Testing Day Highlights Critical Gaps: Four Newborns Diagnosed with HIV as Pregnant Women Skip Screening

Jharkhand has reported four cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among newborns from April 2025 to March 2026.

Health experts say the infections occurred due to transmission from HIV-positive parents, a condition that can be prevented through timely antenatal testing and treatment. According to the Jharkhand State AIDS Control Society (JSACS), nearly 20 percent of pregnant women in the state do not undergo HIV screening during pregnancy.

Officials attribute this to a lack of awareness and reluctance among expectant mothers to get tested, which increases the risk of mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

The Shadow of Stigma: Why Expectant Mothers Skip Screenings

Satya Prakash Prasad, deputy director at the Basic Service Division, Jharkhand State AIDS Control Society, said, “Due to fear of stigma and reluctance to get tested, HIV-positive mothers often remain undiagnosed until delivery. This results in the transmission of the virus to babies. In several instances, the mothers either did not undergo antenatal check-ups or did not disclose their HIV status before delivery.”

Experts stressed that if a pregnant woman is diagnosed with HIV during the early stages of pregnancy, she can be started on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The medicines reduce the viral load and minimise the chances of the virus being transmitted to the baby.

Dr Abhishek Ranjan, additional professor of pediatric surgery at RIMS, said, “Antiretroviral therapy can reduce the chances of the virus being transmitted to the baby if HIV is detected during the first trimester of pregnancy.

However, if the infection goes undetected, the virus may pass to the child through the placenta. Once a child is infected, the condition requires lifelong treatment, and the child may face recurrent infections due to a weakened immune system.”

Over 1,900 New HIV Cases Identified Amid State-Wide Screening Drive

Over 5.07 lakh people underwent HIV testing across the state till March, of whom a total of 1,951 were found HIV-positive. Among pregnant women, a total of 339 women tested positive, out of over 7.65 lakh pregnant women screened.

Currently, the state has over 24,000 HIV-positive cases.

East Singhbhum reported the highest number of cases, with 353 people testing positive, followed by Ranchi with 297 cases, Hazaribagh with 183 cases, Dhanbad with 165, and Palamu with 134. On the other hand, Jamtara registered the lowest, with five cases, followed by Latehar with seven and Khunti with nine.

Experts highlighted that many people remain unaware of their HIV status because the virus may not show symptoms for years.

Dr Gagan Gunjan, associate professor at RIMS, said, “HIV testing is mandatory before any surgical procedure, not only to ensure patient care but also to protect healthcare workers and others who may be at risk. One of the biggest challenges is that HIV often remains asymptomatic for years. Early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment and preventing the further spread of the virus.”

JSACS is promoting voluntary testing through Integrated Counselling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) and mobile vans, which visit communities to provide doorstep counselling. The screening is currently available at 65 ICTCs in district hospitals, medical colleges, and community health centres.

The testing facility is available at the Sadar Hospital of each district.

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