Children and HIV

Children and HIV

Children at the Nyaka school for AIDS orphans in Uganda © Nyaka AIDS Orphans School

Children living with HIV/AIDS are the most heartbreakingly innocent victims in that almost all were infected during pregnancy, birth or through breastfeeding. A total of 430,000 new infections occurred in 2008, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.

The science of paediatric treatment lags that for adults; the virus is difficult to detect in babies and its advance can be very rapid. Only 32% of children born to HIV-positive mothers in low and middle income countries in 2008 received the necessary antiretroviral treatment. One in seven of all AIDS deaths in 2008 were children under age 15.

Knowledge of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)> is more advanced. In rich countries a combination of special drugs for both mother and child, caesarean delivery and formula milk reduces the risk to just 1%-2%. In the complete absence of treatment the risk is 30%-35% and this is the position for over half of all babies born to mothers with HIV in developing countries.

There is perhaps greater public awareness of the problems of the 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa who have escaped HIV but who have lost one or both parents. However, there is uncertainty over this statistic in light of the many other causes of death of parents in poor countries. Development agencies increasingly prefer not to single out “AIDS orphans” for special care.