mother-to-child-hiv-transmission_50World Health Organization has postulated that nearly, 2.3 million children are suffering from HIV. Charlie Gilks of the WHO asserted that 90% of the kids have acquired the virus from their mother, a mode of infection which has been otherwise ignored by the organization.

What is mother-to-child transmission?

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is when an HIV positive woman passes the virus to her baby. This can occur during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or breastfeeding. Without treatment, around 15-30% of babies born to HIV positive women will become infected with HIV during pregnancy and delivery. A further 5-20% will become infected through breastfeeding.

Intravenous drug users in Eastern Europe are also being overlooked, says Gilks. The WHO estimates that around 3 million drug users in the region have HIV, fewer than 10 per cent of whom are being treated. The problem is persuading governments to treat these people as health priorities rather than just as criminals, says he.

Effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) requires a three-fold strategy:

1. Preventing HIV infection among prospective parents
2. Avoiding unwanted pregnancies among HIV positive women
3. Preventing the transmission of HIV from HIV positive mothers to their infants during pregnancy, labor, delivery and breastfeeding.

What could be done?

In order to achieve a success, PMTCT programs require well-trained, supportive staff who takes great care to ensure confidentiality. They must be backed up by effective HIV testing and counseling programs and by good quality HIV/AIDS education, which is essential to eliminate myths and misunderstandings among pregnant women, and to counter stigma and discrimination in the wider community. Under these conditions, antiretroviral drugs have the potential to save many thousands of babies’ lives.

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