Woman living with HIV/AIDS and her child – epidemiological data

SummaryHIV epidemic started at the end of the twentieth century. The infection very quickly spread to the whole world affecting over 33 million people globally. Women are considered half of the infected individuals mostly living in deve­loping countries.In the countries where women's human rights are not respected, the risk of HIV-infection is much greater. First ­reports relating gender-related susceptibility to HIV-infection were published at the end of the twentieth century. The spread of the infection is associated with various biological and socio-economical factors.There is a strong need to reduce the burden of the epidemic among women. These include promotion and protection of women's human rights, increasing awareness among women and encouraging new preventative technologies.Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) occurs when an HIV positive woman passes the virus to her baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Estimated 2 million children living with HIV, which were in majority infected by their mothers. Significant proportion of these children will not live to adulthood.Despite existing antiviral treatment this way of prevention is unavailable in many regions. Although the world is ­effectively fighting with HIV epidemic, it is believed that more actions are required to restrict HIV transmission.