HIV in pregnancy.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended voluntary Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening in all pregnant patients. Is the incidence of HIV in women of child bearing age in South Dakota high enough to warrant aggressive testing? Since HIV reporting began in 1985, there have been five cases of maternal to fetal transmission (vertical transmission) of HIV in the state of South Dakota. The incidence of heterosexual transmission of HIV is increasing in South Dakota and in the year 2000, there have been seven new cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed in women between the ages of 15-39 years of age, "According to June Snyder of the South Dakota Department of Health in April 2001."