A world united against AIDS. Report on the Nursing Satellite Conference and the Eighth International Conference on AIDS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 19-24 July, 1992.

The dramatic increase of new HIV/AIDS cases in women and their babies continues to require midwives to be vigilant in their efforts to identify clients at risk for HIV. The role of STDs in HIV transmission and disease progression is evident. Research is lacking on the effect of AIDS drugs, pregnancy and birth on the HIV-infected woman. Prevention, through safer sex, is a critical education strategy to consider. Data suggesting intrapartum transmission of HIV is particularly interesting and warrants further study. Development of the international framework for future clinical vaccine trials is underway. Initial studies on the ability of HIV vaccines to limit perinatal transmission may provide some encouraging future results.