Under the heading "The top producer Nigeria & # 39; infants infected with HIV", the Sun newspaper reported on a new project to prevent the virus being passed from HIV positive mothers to their babies.
During the launch, the minister of Nigeria's health saying "m & # 39; there is absolutely no reason why Nigeria should be a leading manufacturer & # 39; infants infected with HIV. We contribute about 30% and is our ally various elimination. We believe it is doable. "
The World Health Organization define transmission from mother to baby & # 39; HIV as the transmission of the virus from mother to HIV positive to her baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding.
37,000 new infected children in Nigeria in 2016
Adewole said Africa Check was referring to the UNAIDS data showed that in 2016, Nigeria had the highest share (26.9%) of & # 39; & # 39 new infections; HIV from mother to child among the 23 priority country & # 39; the organization.
"This was based on data available at the time with the use of the existing figures for national HIV prevalence, total population, of & # 39; fertility rates and actual coverage & # 39; natal care and services HIV ", he said.
Gatien Ekanmian, consultant & # 39; strategic information in UNAIDS, Said Africa Check that the organization uses this data to be entered on the statistical modeling software
For 2016, UNAIDS estimated that 37,000 boys and girls younger than 15 were infected with the new virus in Nigeria. Mozambique followed by & # 39; 9.6% of & # 39; new infections (13,000 children) and Africa & # 39; South by 8.6%, or 12,000 children.
Uncertainty in estimates of child infection
But the estimated number of & # 39; children newly infected in Nigeria can & # 39; 22,000 or as low as 56,000. This is because researchers need to do more guesswork when it comes to estimating the number of & # 39; infections in children, UNAIDS explains. This increases the uncertainty.
"For example, ranges around the estimated adult HIV prevalence are smaller than some estimates of the incidence of HIV among children, requiring additional data on prevalence among pregnant women and the likelihood of transmission of HIV from mother to child, have their own additional uncertainty, "says the paper method.
Although the data is for children younger than 15 and not only babies, Ekanmian said UNAIDS think of other ways & # 39; infection "causing a small fraction of the total number of & # 39; children acquire HIV" .
A new study on HIV / Aids for Nigeria
But more accurate data can & # 39; readily available.
"C.From a distance, Nigeria is conducting one of the largest surveys globally, known as the survey on the impact and the indication of HIV / Nigeria Aids, which is expected to have an early preliminary data in 2019. " , said Ekanmian.
Frank Lule, the – regional adviser on HIV / Aids in – WHO Regional Office for Africa, said the survey will probably show that transmission from mother to child was lower than previously reported rates. This was because in the past, the census data were used to estimate the number of & # 39; children born to women who are HIV positive and this tended to increase the number of & # 39; children are believed to have contracted HIV from their mothers.
Pregnant mothers can take precautions
Dr. Abayomi Awoyemi, senior lecturer in – of – biological sciences department – university Tai University Solar & # 39; Education, Said non & # 39; awareness was one reason for the rate & # 39; High transmission from Nigeria Women.
"The Nigerian women infected with HIV are unaware of the anti & # 39; precautions needed to be taken before, during and after pregnancy. To correct the statistics, there is a need to address this issue . "
Country MICS survey found that only in 2007 13% of Nigerian women had been tested for HIV and knew their status. This figure dropped to 11% in 2012, But increased to 34.8% in 2016/17.
Conclusion: In 2016 Nigeria had the highest number of & # 39; children newly infected with HIV from 23 countries
Reporting on the launch of & # 39; new project to prevent the HIV transmission from mothers to their babies, the Sun newspaper declared that Nigeria was "the highest manufacturer & # 39; babies HIV-infected ".
The UNAIDS data show that in 2016, Nigeria had the the highest share (26.9%) of & # 39; new infections of HIV from mother to children from 23 priority countries. It is estimated that 37,000 boys and girls younger than 15 were infected by a new virus.
But because the data on HIV in children is uncertain, this number can & # 39; be as low as 22,000 or as high as 56,000.
Nigeria is currently leading one of the largest studies & # 39; impact on HIV / AIDS in the world. It can & # 39; provides better picture & # 39; infection & # 39; HIV in the country's children.
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