AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Difficulties with adequate assistance to HIV+ babies and mothers

Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) – Although South Africa appeared to have almost succeeded in guaranteeing access to healthcare for mothers and babies, the rate of maternal and infant deaths continues to rise, making the Millennial Goal on Maternal-Infant health ever more difficult to reach. A nation-wide survey 'Health of our Children in South Africa', undertaken by Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) with various, including UNICEF and the Centre for Aids Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE), confirmed that HIV/AIDS is the principal cause of maternal deaths and 35% of the deaths of children under five. Poor quality assistance, low percentage of vaccination against preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria and polio, mistaken feeding all contribute towards the precarious health of mothers and babies in South Africa. HIV+ girls of about 12 years is usually caused by sexual transmission, one out of every 7 girls and one of every 10 boys aged between 10 and 12 have had sexual relations. More than one quarter of girls aged between 12 and 18 has sex with much older partners, putting them at serious risk of contracting HIV. It was found that 3.3% of HIV+ children under four years were infected by their respective mother. A minimum prevalence of HIV of 2.1% among children under two years, confirms that programmes of maternal-infant prevention are having a positive impact. Some 97% of pregnant women had access to prenatal care, 95% were tested for HIV. New national healthcare directions include treatment with anti-retroviral drugs for all HIV+ children under 12 months old, and for pregnant women with a CD4 (immune system measure) of 350 or less which, if applied, could considerably reduce the rates of maternal-infant mortality. (AP) (21/6/2010 Agenzia Fides)