title: Reducing the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Africa.
abstract: Currently there are about twenty four million HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) cases on the continent of Africa. Over the past two years, many health care professionals have been in a stage of denial concerning this problem. According to researchers attending the XIII International AIDS Conference held in Durban, South Africa, the world became aware that cost-effective strategies are needed desperately to stop the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Recent studies suggest that modest antiretroviral drug therapies for HIV-positive pregnant women can reduce one-half of the risk of HIV transmission to the unborn child. Challenges to the governments of Africa such as the high cost of drugs, lack of health care infrastructure and cultural barriers, priority to treat only pregnant women has been a difficult decision, while other infected persons with HIV are not treated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Getahun
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents