title: Advances in the prevention of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: The major mode of acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for children is through mother-to-child transmission, which can occur during pregnancy or labor and delivery, or postnatally through breastfeeding. In resource-rich countries, mother-to-child HIV transmission has decreased to less than 2 percent after recommendations for universal prenatal HIV counseling and testing, antiretroviral prophylaxis and elective cesarean delivery, and avoidance of breastfeeding were implemented. In resource-limited settings, effective, shorter, and less expensive antiretroviral prophylaxis interventions also have been identified, but implementation has been slower, and continued transmission through breastfeeding remains a significant problem. This review summarizes recent advances made in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the United States and other resource-rich countries, as well as progress in resource-limited countries.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research for Mothers and Children, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. LM65D@nih.gov
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mofenson
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents