Study examines mother-to-child HIV in Botswana

The presumption that HIV-positive children are born to mothers who had the disease prior to conception has been challenged.

A study of infants born in Botswana suggests that more than 40 per cent of those born with HIV had mothers who contracted the virus either during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

The research, presented at the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, was instigated partly because mother-to-child prevention programmes are not seen to include the percentage of women who acquire HIV after conception.

Researchers wrote that the findings suggest that measures to address the contraction of HIV during pregnancy "may substantially reduce the remaining burden of infant HIV in Botswana, and makes more effective prevention efforts for mothers a high priority".

"Retesting women in late pregnancy and at child immunisation visits would allow the opportunity for drug interventions and early weaning where appropriate," the report added.