HIV perinatal transmission and reproductive health.

HIV-1 infection in risk groups such as intravenous drug abusers, their sexual partners, and sexually active women in many developing countries has resulted in an increased number of HIV-infected women of childbearing age. In most parts of the world, where blood bank screening for HIV-1 is now in effect, mother-to-child transmission of the virus will be the major mode of infection to infants. Several prospective studies of infants born to infected mothers have shown a perinatal transmission rate of approximately 25–40% in both developed and developing countries (1–5). The actual mechanisms of mother-infant transmission are not yet known; data is supportive of trans-placental spread (6–8), birth canal transmission at delivery (9), and breast feeding (1, 10).