While statistics on HIV infection have yet to be calculated for 2009, as of last year over 2 million children were infected with the virus globally. Due to a lack of knowledge regarding HIV transmission and prevention, not to mention limited access to treatment, the vast majority of these cases are reported in Africa.
The Numbers
Of the 2.3 million children currently infected with HIV around the world, 87 percent, or 2 million, live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Under 15
HIV-infected children refers to those under the age of 15. One out of every three newborns born HIV-positive dies before she reaches her one-year mark; almost 100 percent perish before their fifth birthday.
Infection
The majority of children with HIV-positive statuses contracted the virus within the womb, during birth, or through breastfeeding, because their mothers were HIV-positive themselves. While survival is possible with treatment, 90 percent of HIV-positive children in Africa are not receiving it.
Other Illnesses
Oftentimes, an African child's HIV-positive status is worsened by other illnesses, like mumps or tuberculosis. Their already weakened immune systems are incapable of fighting off these added infections, leading often to death.
Future
Without increased access to healthcare and treatment, it is likely that more children will perish as a result of the virus and the disease it causes---AIDS. In Botswana, for example, experts predict that by 2010, 100 children out of 100,000 will die before the age of five due to complications from HIV/AIDS.
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