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How Many Children Are Infected With HIV in Africa?

While statistics on HIV infection have yet to be calculated for 2009, as of last year over 2 million children were infected with the virus globally. Due to a lack of knowledge regarding HIV transmission and prevention, not to mention limited access to treatment, the vast majority of these cases are reported in Africa.

  1. The Numbers

    • Of the 2.3 million children currently infected with HIV around the world, 87 percent, or 2 million, live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Under 15

    • HIV-infected children refers to those under the age of 15. One out of every three newborns born HIV-positive dies before she reaches her one-year mark; almost 100 percent perish before their fifth birthday.

    Infection

    • The majority of children with HIV-positive statuses contracted the virus within the womb, during birth, or through breastfeeding, because their mothers were HIV-positive themselves. While survival is possible with treatment, 90 percent of HIV-positive children in Africa are not receiving it.

    Other Illnesses

    • Oftentimes, an African child's HIV-positive status is worsened by other illnesses, like mumps or tuberculosis. Their already weakened immune systems are incapable of fighting off these added infections, leading often to death.

    Future

    • Without increased access to healthcare and treatment, it is likely that more children will perish as a result of the virus and the disease it causes---AIDS. In Botswana, for example, experts predict that by 2010, 100 children out of 100,000 will die before the age of five due to complications from HIV/AIDS.

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