Publication

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is by far the largest source of HIV infection in children under the age of 15. In countries where blood products are regularly screened and clean syringes and needles are widely available, it is virtually the only source in young children. In 1997, an estimated 600,000 infants worldwide were infected with the virus, bringing the total number of young children living with HIV to over 1 million at the end of the year.