Prevention of vertical transmission of HIV-1 in resource-limited settings.
One of the most exciting areas of HIV research is that of prevention of vertical transmission from mother to child, since it accounts for 90% of childhood HIV infections, and therefore prevention in this context has an enormous potential impact on the spread of HIV among children. Focused research has yielded highly successful strategies for reducing infant infection rates, particularly in the developed world, and much work is underway to implement appropriate strategies in resource-limited settings, although this is not without challenges. Although transmission rates in some settings have been reduced to approximately 1%, scale-up and widespread implementation and application of strategic interventions for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding are needed in the developing world.
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag 7, Congella 4013, South Africa. coutsoud@ukzn.ac.za
Anna
A
Coutsoudis
Leith
L
Kwaan
Mairi
M
Thomson
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003906:Developing Countries; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents