2:00 - 7:00pm [-03]
As of 2024, an estimated 16 million children under 15 years of age had been perinatally exposed to HIV globally and were born HIV-free. An expanding body of evidence shows that these children experience a higher likelihood of infectious morbidity, mortality, impaired growth and suboptimal neurodevelopmental and cognitive outcomes than peers born to mothers without HIV, with the aetiology of these adverse outcomes reflecting an interplay of biological, social and structural factors.
Optimizing the health and well-being of children and adolescents with perinatal HIV exposure requires an understanding of their unique exposures, vulnerabilities and needs. Rigorous, multidisciplinary research is essential to identify mechanisms responsible for the increased likelihood of poor health and developmental outcomes. The development of screening tools is important, particularly in settings where health resources are constrained, to identify who would benefit most from timely interventions. Equally important is the design, testing and implementation of evidence-based interventions, policies and programmes tailored to the needs of this population.
With the theme, Learning from successes and challenges of other paediatric programmes to optimize outcomes of children and adolescents with perinatal HIV exposure, the symposium will:
- Present the latest scientific evidence on health, development and well-being of children and adolescents with perinatal HIV exposure.
- Address key policy and programme priorities.
- Foster networking and collaboration among early-career researchers, policymakers, programme managers and advocates.
The 12th Symposium builds on over a decade of meetings dedicated to the health and well-being of children and adolescents born HIV-free to women living with HIV. It will be comprised of three sessions:
- Session 1: Optimizing development after perinatal HIV exposure
- Session 2: Identifying risk and supporting families: Lessons from other programmes
- Session 3: Long-term follow-up: From data to action
The symposium is organized by the Collaborative Initiative for Paediatric HIV Education and Research (CIPHER) of IAS – the International AIDS Society – in collaboration with Penta - Child Health Research, Mass General Brigham, Paediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Supported by
