Title: Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission.

POPLINE Document Number: 314849

Author(s):

Ngure P

Source citation:

Contact, 2006 Aug;(182):18-21.

Abstract:

Recent gains in child survival rates are threatened by the AIDS epidemic. Each year, approximately 600 000 infants, most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa, are born with or become HIV-positive as a result of mother-to-child HIV transmission. The rising number of HIV-positive children places an enormous burden on families and health care systems. Mother-to-child HIV transmission can be greatly reduced by expanding high quality antenatal and obstetric care, voluntary HIV counselling and testing, access to antiretroviral therapy, and the use of breast milk substitutes or exclusive breastfeeding. In Kenya, AIDS was declared a national in 1999. Over 2.5 million people are living with HIV, an estimated 15% of the adult population. In addition to the estimated 220 000 HIV-positive children, there are almost 1 million AIDS orphans. The social and economic repercussions are devastating and are reversing hard-won gains in development and rolling back the child survival gains made since independence. Kenyan studies show that there is a nine-fold increase in the risk of death for HIV-positive children compared to HIV-negative children and approximately 50% of HIV-positive children die before their second birthday. In the event that the mother dies, there is an eight-fold risk of death of an infant irrespective of HIV status. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Kenya
Progress Report
Evaluation
Persons Living With HIV/AIDS
Pregnant Women
Women in Development
Infant
Faith-Based Organization
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
HIV Prevention
Antiretroviral Therapy
Pregnancy, Unplanned
Antenatal Care
Christianity
Africa, Eastern
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Developing Countries
HIV Infections
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Economic Development
Economic Factors
Youth
Age Factors
Organizations
Political Factors
Sociocultural Factors
Disease Transmission Control
Prevention and Control
HIV
Reproductive Behavior
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Maternal Health Services
Maternal-Child Health Services
Primary Health Care
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Religion