CNN iReport

HIV infection isn't like a cold or the flu. You cannot get HIV by hugging or holding the hand of, sharing a school bus or classroom with, or visiting the home of someone who has HIV. HIV is passed only through direct contact with another person's body fluids, such as blood. A "Mother-to-be" is infected with HIV/AIDS: A time of joy is filled with fear. A time of hope is filled with hopelessness. An infected mother passes the disease to her unborn child. This can be prevented by treating the mother and child around the time the baby is delivered, however a large population of today's world lacks this basic medical care. Nearly 2 million children in sub-Saharan Africa were living with HIV at the end of 2007, representing more than 85% of all children living with HIV worldwide. A time for celebration for most new parents becomes a time of fear as the vast majority of these children will become infected with HIV during pregnancy or through breastfeeding. More than 90 percent of infections worldwide in infants and children, probably occurs late in pregnancy or during birth. Although the precise mechanisms are unknown, scientists think HIV may be transmitted when maternal blood enters the fetal circulation or by mucosal exposure to virus during labor and delivery. The role of the placenta in maternal-fetal transmission is unclear and the focus of ongoing research. HIV also may be transmitted from a nursing mother to her infant. Studies have suggested that breastfeeding introduces an additional risk of HIV transmission of approximately 10 to 14 percent among women with chronic HIV infection. In developing countries, an estimated one-third to one-half of all HIV infections are transmitted through breastfeeding. Additional Information: Infants and HIV/AIDS AIDS & Children AIDS & Adolescents Teens Health