Only a quarter of HIV-positive pregnant women in poorer countries receive antiretroviral therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, according to a UN report issued on April 3rd. Nevertheless, the report found that increasing numbers of HIV-positive children and expectant mothers are receiving anti-HIV drugs.
Jointly produced by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS and UNICEF, Children and AIDS: Second stocktaking report, found that, in 2007, an estimated 290,000 children aged under 15 died because of HIV and that 2.1 million children were living with the virus. The HIV epidemic in adults is also having an effect on children, and 12.1 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have had one or both parents die because of HIV.
Focusing on low- and middle-income countries, the report details progress in four key areas: the provision of antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; the provision of paediatric anti-HIV treatment; preventing new HIV infections in children and young people; and, the protection and support of young people affected by HIV. In 2006, just over a third of a million pregnant women with HIV received antiretroviral therapy to prevent HIV transmission to their baby. Although this represents a 60% increase on 2005, it means that only 23% of expectant mothers with HIV are receiving drugs shown to dramatically reduce the risk of HIV transmission to their infant. Nevertheless, 21 countries are now on track to meet the target 80% coverage of treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission. This includes several countries with a high adult HIV prevalence such as Botswana and South Africa.
Contributed by Anuradha Bhattacharjee, 06 May 2008