Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa: the dawning of a new era

Abstract

In many HIV prevalent countries in sub-Saharan Africa death among HIV-infected mothers and their children is a major obstacle to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs) for maternal and child mortality. In South Africa HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of maternal and child mortality and with HIV incidence estimated at 5% (per year) in 2006 life expectancy has decreased by more than 20 years since 1994. From 1990 onwards infant mortality has increased and maternal mortality has remained unchanged so without drastic action it is unlikely South Africa will achieve the two-thirds reduction in infant mortality or three-quarters reduction in maternal mortality required to reach MDGs 3 and 4 by 2015. (excerpt)