HIV main infectious cause of death amongst pregnant South African women

Michael Carter
Estimated reading time 1 minutes
This article is more than 22 years old.

HIV is the leading infectious cause of death amongst pregnant women in South Africa, according to a report recently released by the country’s health ministry.

The report, Saving mothers 1999-2001 was commissioned by the South African health department in 1999, and shows that 17% of all maternal deaths are due to HIV.

However, study author, Professor Jack Moodley, is quoted by the South African Sunday Times as saying that the true figure is likely to be much higher as HIV tests were only conducted in approximately a third of the maternal deaths occurring between 1999-2001.

Glossary

sepsis

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection. The body normally releases chemicals into the bloodstream to fight an infection. Sepsis occurs when the body's response to these chemicals is out of balance, triggering changes that can damage multiple organ systems. Also known as septicemia.

 

mother-to-child transmission (MTCT)

Transmission of HIV from a mother to her unborn child in the womb or during birth, or to infants via breast milk. Also known as vertical transmission.

high blood pressure

When blood pressure (the force of blood pushing against the arteries) is consistently too high. Raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, cognitive impairment, sight problems and erectile dysfunction.

Health minister Tshabalala-Msimang has undertaken to extend HIV testing programmes for pregnant women, but remains uncommitted on the question of whether antiretroviral treatment will be made available to prolong the lives of pregnant women and prevent mother to child transmission.

Other major causes of death during pregnancy identified by the report included high blood pressure, uncontrolled bleeding, and sepsis.

Further information on this website

Non-infectious co-factors - pregnancy

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