HIV in Children in a General Population Sample in East Zimbabwe: Prevalence, Causes and Effects

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2014
Country:
Zimbabwe
Document Type:
Journal Article
Theme:
Social Change
Authors:
Chawira, G., Gregson, S., Munyati, S., Nyamukapa, C., Pufall, E., Eaton, J.W., Mutsindiri, R., Robertson, L.

Abstract

There are an estimated half-million children living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The predominant source of infection is presumed to be perinatal mother-to-child transmission, but general population data about paediatric HIV are sparse. The study characterises the epidemiology of HIV in children in sub-Saharan Africa by describing the prevalence, possible source of infection, and effects of paediatric HIV in a southern African population.

It is concluded that childhood HIV infection likely arises predominantly from mother-to-child transmission and is associated with poorer physical development. Overall antiretroviral therapy uptake was low, with the primary barrier to treatment appearing to be lack of diagnosis.

Citation

Pufall, E.; Nyamukapa, C.; Eaton, J.W.; Mutsindiri, R.; Chawira, G.; Munyati, S.; Robertson, L.; Gregson, S. HIV in Children in a General Population Sample in East Zimbabwe: Prevalence, Causes and Effects. PLoS ONE (2014) 9 (11) e113415. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113415]

HIV in Children in a General Population Sample in East Zimbabwe: Prevalence, Causes and Effects

Published 1 January 2014
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