HC Deb 12 July 1993 vol 228 cc375-6W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has as to the number of children who are themselves HIV negative but who have one or both parents who are HIV positive.

Mr. Sackville

There are no data on the total number of children in the United Kingdom who have one or both parents who are HIV positive. Most such children are HIV negative, but they may be HIV positive if their mothers were infected with HIV prior to giving birth or breast feeding them.

By 30 April 1993, there had been 500 reports of children in the United Kingdom born to women known to be infected with HIV. One hundred and fifty-two of these children are known to be uninfected and the HIV infection status of 168 children has not yet been determined. However, the results of unlinked anonymous HIV surveys indicate that there have been many pregnant women whose HIV infection was not known to obstetric staff so there are an unknown number of children born to HIV-infected women.

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