HIV-1 Infection in Women and Children : The Future of AFrican Children

ABSTRACT

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; 110 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