The Fight Continues Against HIV in Children

Over a quarter of a century has come to pass since the discovery of the pandemic HIV. Since then, over 25 million people have lost their lives to the disease.  In 2006 alone, an estimated 39.5 million people are living with HIV worldwide according to the UNAIDS/ WHO.  About 5.8% of these are children.

There are about 1 million cases of HIV infection in the United States.  An estimated 26% of the incidents are female patients. Approximately 25% of the infected women are not aware of their infection and thus, if pregnant, have a high possibility of transmitting the virus to their children.  The virus is transmitted from the mother to the child during pregnancy, at childbirth or through breastfeeding.

Much has been achieved in terms of medical technology to curb the transmission and progression of HIV.  Administering antiretroviral drugs greatly inhibit the virus and prevents the onset of AIDS.  However, if pregnant mothers find out too late about their state of infection, the breakthrough drug zidovudine (ZDV), coupled with delivery of the infant through caesarean section, can significantly reduce the risk of transmission of the deadly virus to the child.

Perinatal Transmission of HIV in the US

Despite the developments achieved in the field, an estimated annual average of 150 infants with HIV are still born in the United States, a significant number of which are members of racial minorities.  Aside from the fact that a quarter of HIV infected women are unaware of their disease, a few of those who know are actually unaware that there are available interventions that can reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmissions.

Interventions for Preventive Mother-to-Child Transmissions

To further reduce the incidence of perinatal transmissions, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) introduced several programs including broad social marketing drive to persuade women to participate in HIV screening and prenatal care.  They have also engaged in identifying and tracking pregnant women found positive for HIV who needs immediate medical intervention.  Most notable of these programs is the implementation of routine testing for HIV in pregnant women.

Progress on Preventing Perinatal Transmission
Already, progress has been evident in preventing mother-to-child transmissions of HIV. Perinatal transmission of the virus has declined from 1,650 cases in 1991 to an average of 141 cases in 2004.  Ever since the pandemic broke out in 1981 to date, an estimated 8,460 children in the US have been found with AIDS who acquired the infection through perinatal transmission.
Yet mother-to-child transmissions of HIV that have led to reported AIDS cases have steadily declined from 118 cases in 2001 to 2004, although a slight increase was observed from 50 in 2004 to 67 in 2005.  The goal now is to bring the incidence of such cases to zero.  GP