An estimated 120,000-160,000 women in the United States are living with HIV, many of whom are not aware of infection. Approximately 6,000 to 7,000 of women with the AIDS virus give birth each year. Around 90% of children with HIV in the United States had contracted the virus from their mothers either during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. This is known as perinatal HIV infection. Worldwide, these numbers are much higher, with approximately 600,000 babies contracting HIV AIDS each year.
A government AIDS research conducted in the United States in 1994 showed that drug treatment during pregnancy significantly reduces the likelihood of a baby contracting HIV from an infected mother. Following the study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported an 83% decline in perinatal HIV infection. In 2002, the CDC recommended that all pregnant women be offered HIV testing as a regular part of prenatal care as a routine AIDS prevention method to avoid HIV transmission from mother to child.
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