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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: In order to describe the social situation of children of HIV-infected mothers, an investigation was carried out between November 1991 and February 1992. A questionnaire inquiring about children (under 18) of HIV-infected mothers was sent out to all HIV treatment wards in Stockholm and institutes engaging in family and social care. The mothers (21-45 years old, average age 32 years) were divided into 4 groups: 1) known or probable infection through sexual contact in Europe (mainly in Sweden), 2) known or probable infection through sexual contact in the rest of the world (mainly in Africa), 3) infection via blood products, and 4) infection via intravenous drug abuse. Data were received about 92 living mothers and their 144 children under 18 years of age. Almost two-thirds of the mothers' infection were known to be or probably sexually transmitted, and of these more than two-thirds were from countries outside Europe, mainly from Africa. Only 32% of mothers were infected by IV drug use, and the remaining 6% via blood products. 24% of all children had mothers with an advanced stage of the disease (AIDS or severely reduced immune response). All children 11-18 years old were HIV negative, while 10 children of 105 who were under 11 years of age were infected with HIV, and 15 had a still undetermined HIV status. In all, 63% (91/144) of children had a known living father, 40% of whom (36/91) were infected with HIV. 40% of all children (58/144) had regular contact with their fathers, while only 1 child of 20 children who were under guardian care had regular contact. 74% of the children faced the risk of being left without parents.
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