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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright
© OB Elijah, EK Umukoro, VO Igben, EG Moke, MO Ojezele, CB Onitiri-Elijah, 2025
Affiliations
OB Elijah
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical, Delta State University, Abraka
EK Umukoro
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical, Delta State University, Abraka
VO Igben
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical, Delta State University, Abraka
EG Moke
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka
MO Ojezele
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka.
CB Onitiri-Elijah
Lily Hospitals, Warri
How to Cite
Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Past and Present Perspectives
Vol 11 No 1 (2025): International Journal of Forensic Medical Investigation
Submitted: Jun 19, 2025
Published: May 5, 2025
Abstract
The foremost documentation of AIDS in the United States in 1981 primarily involved cases among individuals identifying as homosexual. However, subsequent reports have confirmed HIV infection in all nations around the globe, leading to the emergence of a global epidemic. One of the major burdens of HIV/AIDS is the mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT). Pregnant women constitute a unique demographic in treatment considerations, primarily due to the potential to avert mother- to-child transmission (MTCT) by antiretroviral therapy, alongside the necessity to ensure the safety of the women and their exposed fetuses and offspring(s). The main source of pediatric HIV infection is vertical transmission from mother to child, which may occur during pregnancy, at the moment of delivery, or postnatally during breastfeeding. In 2022, the Sub-Saharan African region accounted for 84% of new pediatric infections worldwide. This essay examines the past and present preventive methods against MTCT in the region.
Material and methods
An online search of relevant published articles in Scopus, Research Gate, PubMed, and Embase from 1996 to 2024 was conducted; 49 of these articles were adapted for this article.
Results
The journey in the fight against vertical transmission of HIV in the Sub- Saharan African region has recorded significant successes over the years; although there are a few drawbacks to the preventive strategies currently being employed across the region. With further strengthened collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and other key stakeholders in the HIV prevention/elimination programme, mother-to- child transmission of HIV can become a thing of the past soon.