Huge disparities in access to proven methods to thwart HIV still exist between rich and poor countries. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) efforts are a case in point, explained pediatrician Elaine Abrams of Columbia University. In wealthy countries, where HIV-infected pregnant women receive cocktails of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and do not breastfeed, fewer than 2% transmit the virus to their babies. That's a drop from as high as 40% of the women who receive no treatment and breastfeed. "New pediatric infections have virtually been eliminated," said Abrams. "In contrast, the pediatric epidemic rages overseas." According to the best estimates, 480,000 babies worldwide became infected in 2008, with a mere 21 % of pregnant women receiving an HIV test and only 45% of those who tested positive receiving drugs to prevent infection-and that treatment was often suboptimal.
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