Objective: To evaluate vertical HIV transmission rate in Poland.
Methods: 132 children born to HIV positive mothers were evaluated and their HIV infection status was established.
Main observations and results: There are 60 HIV-infected children in Poland. 92% of them have been infected perinataly. From 1989 to 1994 the rate of vertical transmission was 25%. Since September 1994, when prophylactic strategies were started, the rate has decreased to 21.4% (in children with prophylaxis to 1.8%).
Conclusions: Vertical HIV infection prophylactic programs rely on women's knowledge about their HIV infection status and are the only way to diminish pediatric HIV infection worldwide. The authors show difficulty of providing proper medical care of HIV positive women in Poland and underly the need of voluntary HIV testing for all women before pregnancy.