HIV TRANSMISSION FROM MOTHER TO CHILD

Every minute, a child is born, infected with HIV. This symbolic figure conceals a brutal reality. These are the facts and figures:

—– There are around 2.5 million children below the age of 15 years living with HIV.
—– In 2009, 370 000 children under 15 years were infected with HIV. Nearly 90% were infected during pregnancy, childbirth or through breastfeeding.
—– Without access to necessary care and treatment about one third of these children with HIV will die by their first birthday, 50% by the age of 2 years, and 80% by 5 years. Only 20% will have a chance of reaching adulthood !
—– In 2009, an estimated 1.4 million pregnant women were living with HIV.
—– Without any intervention, as high as 45% of infants born to HIV-positive mothers will become infected with the virus.
—– Estimates suggest that 260,000 children died from HIV-related causes in 2009. More than 90% of them lived in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the virus is also hitting Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Nearly 90% of all new HIV infections among children occur in 22 countries :

pays

Today, only one in two HIV-positive pregnant women can access treatment to avoid passing on the virus to their children :

Behind the tragedy hitting children, there is a tragedy hitting their mothers. An estimated 42,000 women die due to HIV-related maternal causes each year. Pregnant women need comprehensive health care—for their own health and for their children. HIV and maternal health services must be provided together.

Source : UNAIDS

THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The Millennium Development Goals are an initiative that the United Nations introduced in 2000. 189 Member States agreed to achieve those goals in the poorest countries by 2015.

Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission is at the core of Goals :

—– 4 (Reducing child mortality),
—– 5 (Improving maternal health)
—– 6 (Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases)

This has led international organisations to aim for the following specific targets :

—– 90% reduction of new paediatric HIV infections.
—– Less than 5% HIV transmission rate at 18 months for breastfeeding populations.
—– 50% reduction in HIV infections in women 15 – 49 years.
—– Zero unmet need for family planning for all women.
—– 90% reduction in HIV – related maternal deaths.
—– 90% reduction in HIV – related infant and under 5 deaths.

Source : The Millennium Development Goals (MDG)