How has the HIV/AIDS epidemic influenced infant mortality rates?

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has significantly contributed to higher infant mortality rates, particularly in regions heavily impacted by the disease, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The link between HIV/AIDS and infant mortality is multifaceted. First, many women living with HIV can transmit the virus to their infants during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, resulting in higher rates of HIV-positive infants, who are more susceptible to various infections and health complications.

Additionally, HIV/AIDS often leads to weakened immune systems and increased prevalence of opportunistic infections among both mothers and infants. In cases where the mother is infected and unable to care for her child due to illness, the child's access to proper nutrition and medical care may be severely limited, directly affecting health outcomes and survival rates.

Furthermore, the epidemic has broader social implications, such as increased poverty and reduced healthcare capacity in affected communities, which can exacerbate conditions that lead to higher infant mortality. Such factors contribute to a cycle where the impacts of the epidemic on health systems and individual families lead to increased vulnerability for infants, thereby raising the overall infant mortality rates in these contexts.