Children and HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS is a disease that knows no tribe, religion, social status or even age. Indeed it is sad that children are not spared by this disease. According to the Kenya National HIV and AIDS Estimates (2010), the cumulative number of children infected is estimated to be 184,052 by 2009. It is estimated that 22,259 children got newly infected in 2009. The high incidence of pediatric infection contributes directly to infant and young child mortality, complicates child malnutrition, and requires lifelong and expensive treatment. Many would be wondering how children contract the disease yet they are sexually inactive.

Ways that children can get infected

The mother though pregnancy, labour and delivery as well as breast feeding. However it is important to note that not all children born of HIV positive will be HIV positive.
Children like adults can also get the virus through blood to blood contact with a person who is HIV positive. There are also the incidences where children are raped. If the rapist was not wearing any condoms then the child should immediately be taken to hospital for preventative measures. The doctors will administer medicines that can prevent the child from getting the HIV virus.

To prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS before the child is born
HIV positive expectant mothers should take anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy—either a drug called zidovudine or AZT alone or in combination with other drugs called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)—a mother can significantly reduce the chances that her baby will get infected with HIV.

HIV positive expectant mothers should deliver their baby by cesarean section, and doing so before the mother’s uterine membranes rupture naturally, reduces transmission that may occur during the birth process. Use of anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy and delivery, combined with a cesarean section in women with certain levels of HIV in their blood, can reduce the chance that the baby will be infected to less than 2 percent.

Avoidance of breastfeeding by an HIV-infected mother. HIV can be spread to babies through the breast milk of mothers infected with the virus. Determine the safest feeding option depending on the situation one can choose to do exclusive breast feeding or exclusive replacement feeding. (Formula milk). Exclusive means you stick to either breast milk or formula milk for the first four to six months.

The Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG-4) is to reduce the under-5 mortality rates by two thirds between 1990 and 2015. Action Network for the Disabled is committed to seeing this goal realized by mainstreaming women with disabilities in the efforts to achieve this goal. Through the HIV and AIDS prevention program, ANDY raises awareness of PMTCT to women with disabilities. Visit our blog for more on women, children and HIV AIDS prevention through the lens of disability.

Caroline Chencha,Project Officer; Health and Fitness