Title: Paediatric HIV infection and AIDS. UNAIDS point of view.

POPLINE Document Number: 276673

Corporate Author(s):

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV / AIDS [UNAIDS]

Source citation:

Geneva, Switzerland, UNAIDS, 2002 Sep. [8] p. (UNAIDS Best Practice Collection|UNAIDS Point of View)

Abstract:

More than 1500 children become infected with HIV every day. The vast majority (more than 90%) acquire the infection from their mother. Children may acquire HIV during pregnancy, labour, delivery or, after birth, through breastfeeding. Among infected infants who are not breastfed, about two-thirds of cases of mother-to-child transmission occur around the time of delivery and the rest during pregnancy. In 2001, more than 2.6 million pregnant women had HIV infection and more than half a million transmitted the virus to their infants. Children may also become infected with HIV through contaminated blood transfusion and or blood products, the use of contaminated needles and syringes, and sexual abuse or exploitation. Since the beginning of the pandemic, of the over 5 million infants who have been infected with HIV, 90% were born in Africa. However, the number of cases in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, India and South-East Asia is rising. HIV infection is a major contributing factor to childhood disease and mortality. In developing countries, it is threatening gains made in infant and child survival and health over recent decades. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Global
Summary Report
Mothers
Child
AIDS
HIV Infections
Prevalence
Mother-to-Child Transmission
Child Mortality
Infant
HIV Prevention
Human Rights
Parents
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Measurement
Research Methodology
Mortality
Population Dynamics