Children are especially at risk from AIDS in Africa. Thirteen million children have been orphaned by AIDS, many are at risk from mother to child transmission of the disease, and 3 million children live with AIDS (UNICEF 2003). The figure below shows the rising number of AIDS orphans in Zambia.

Retrieved from: UNAIDS 2000

Mother to Child Transmission

The number of youth and infants that are infected is growing. Mother to Child Transmission is concentrated in Africa (see figure below) and has resulted in roughly 2.2 million children infected in sub-Saharan Africa.

Retrieved from: UNICEF Statistics a

Source: UNAIDS 2002

Youth

The figure below shows the numbers of young people living with HIV/AIDS. An estimated 11.8 million young people were living with HIV in 2001.

Retrieved from: UNICEF Statistics b

Lifetime Risk of AIDS Death for 15 Year Old Boys

Risk of dying from AIDS are extraordinarily high in some countries. As the figure shows 90% of 15-year-old boys in Botswana are likely to die from AIDS.

Retrieved from: UNICEF Statistics b

References

UNAIDS. 2000.'Socio-Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa.' Retrieved July 20, 2003.

UNAIDS. 2002. 'World AIDS Day 2002: Press Release.' December 1. Retrieved July 23, 2003.

UNICEF. 2003. 'Southern Africa-Countries in Crisis.' Feburary 24. Retrieved August 1, 2003.

UNICEF Statistics a. 'Mother-to-Child-Transmission (MTCT).' Retrieved July 22, 2003.

UNICEF Statistics b. 'Young People and HIV/AIDS.' Retrieved July 22, 2003.