PREGNANCY AND PEDIATRIC HIV-INFECTION

An estimated 1 million individuals in the United States are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Over 200,000 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control as of January 1992. While only 10% of reported cases have been in women, this proportion is steadily growing. Among women with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, over 80% are of reproductive age. Thus, great concern has been raised over perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, which is the major cause of pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.