The public health issue or global health challenge
The intricate connection between male and female, well-being, progress , social and economic status, implies that men and women’s susceptibilities to HIV/AIDS is a subject in need of addressing, not only in the medical sector but also in other departments of the society (HIV/AIDS and Gender: Fact Sheet).
In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV infects an estimated 1000 infants per day in spite of the accessible health measures. Pediatric HIV is one of the main factors contributing to the spread of HIV among newborns all over the world (HIV/AIDS and Gender: Fact Sheet).
Magnitude of the challenge
The occurrence of HIV persists among young fertile women especially in the Sub-Saharan region. In early 2007, HIV infection among pregnant women present at gynecological clinics stood at 20% in Sub-Saharan regions (HIV/AIDS and Gender: Fact Sheet).. In the absence of precautionary interventions, the entire rate of mother to child infection of HIV in breastfeeding may be a staggering 25-45%. Before, scientists stumbled upon antiretroviral measures meant to avert mother to child transmission, of HIV among Sub-Saharan women, innovative studies determined the extent of the challenge, the effect of the HIV epidemic and the risk factors linked to mother to child transmission.
Health consequences
Infants born to females with HIV infection get HIV drugs for 4-6 weeks after birth. Antiretroviral drugs reduce the amount of HIV infection in the blood stream of the baby hence insulating the baby from the effects of HIV consequently stopping from graduating into AIDS (A Student’s Guide to Writing a Global Health Policy Brief). Since HIV can pass through the breastmilk, baby formula is the best way of feeding and the best substitute for breast milk (USAID Syria Complex Emergency Fact Sheet). In addition, risk factors such as a great viral load, low CD4 amount or the presence of AIDS related infections.
Reference
Fact Sheet.PDF
USAID Syria Complex Emergency Fact Sheet.pdf
World Bank Basic information Fact Sheet.PDF
HIV/AIDS and Gender: Fact Sheet Overview.PDF
A Student’s Guide to Writing a Global Health Policy Brief.PDF
