ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study the natural history of perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection in children. Methods: This study started in 1986. This paper covers August 1989 - Feb. 1993. Children born to HIV+mothers (study) and HIV - mothers (controls) were followed up clinically and serologically at regular intervals. All the children were breastfed and immunised. Results: A total of 159 children (72 study and 87 controls) were studied; 99 were over 24 months old. Almost all the children 68/72 study and 81/87 controls breastfed. over all mortality (study group) was 14/72 (19) versus 5/87 (6) (controls) (p
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , HIV Infections , Natural HistoryABSTRACT
Objectives: To highlight the future crisis of African children due to HIV/AIDS in women and children. Methods: A review of available data and projections of HIV/AIDS in women and children in Africa. Results and Discussion: It is estimated that 3 out of 10 million infected people worldwide are women of children bearing age; 50of them in Africa. East and Central Africa ; 10-36of prenatal women in some urban areas are HIV positive. HIV positive women have 25-40chnaces of infecting their new borns vertically. Such infected children have a 25chance of dying before age one; and 80by age 5. Thus maternal and paediatric HIV/AIDS poses a socio-economic crisis for Africa. In East and Central Africa; 1:10 AIDS cases are children and estimated that during the 1990s; 2.9 million women and 2.7 million chidlren will die of AIDS. The children of HIV+ mothers who survive may have no-one to care for them. hence there is emerging an orphan crisis in this region. The traditional African extended family can no longer cope. There is also a rise in street children with attendant dangers of juvenile deliquency; drug and sex abuse; STDs including HIV and crime. Conclusions and Recommendations: African children face major crises requiring urgent attention:- 1. Increased morbidity/mortality rates. 2. Increasing numbers of orphans and street children