The obstetric face and challenge of HIV/AIDS
Guidozzi, F.; Black, V.
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology 52(2): 270-284
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1532-5520 PMID: 19407534 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0b013e3181a4f365Document Number: 206651
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic is one of the most serious health crises facing the world. Of the estimated 33.2 million people living with HIV worldwide, 22.5 million (68%) live in Sub-Saharan Africa, where women of childbearing age are most severely affected. Children primarily acquire HIV infection through mother-to-child transmission. Despite recent encouraging success, low-income countries have not been able to effectively curtail transmission of HIV to the infant during or after pregnancy, resulting in about 90% of the estimated 420,000 newly infected children per annum occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa.