AIDS has severely disrupted child health services in developing countries

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7314.0

AIDS has severely disrupted child health services in developing countries

HIV infection and AIDS have severely disrupted child health services in many developing countries. By 2010, a doubling inchildhood mortality is expected in regions with a high prevalenceof infection, and globally the number of children orphaned becauseof AIDS will increase from 13.2 million to 44 million. Effortsto prevent transmission of the virus from mother to child areinadequate in many poor countries. In their review on p 670 Saloojeeand Violari acknowledge that the choice between breast feedingand feeding with formula milk remains controversial and claimthat an effective AIDS vaccine can be expected within the next10 years.