Evelyn Leopold, United Nations: Despite some progress, most pregnant African women do not have access to drugs that would prevent passing on the HIV virus to their infants, UNICEF reported on Tuesday.

In a 44-page report, "Children and Aids: A Stocktaking," the U.N. children's agency said one out of 10 pregnant women living in capital cities in sub-Saharan Africa is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

In Pretoria, South Africa, for example, one in four children is infected.

"Increasing numbers of children living with HIV are now receiving treatment, although the numbers are far too few," the report said. "The increases are a result of improved testing, better skills among health workers, lower drug prices and simpler formulations.

"While only nine per cent of HIV-positive pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries worldwide received drugs in 2005 that could prevent passing on the disease to children, the figure represented an increase from three percent in 2003.

In Namibia, access rates to drugs for pregnant women jumped from six to 29 per cent from 2004 to 2005. In Swaziland, it rose to 34 percent from four percent and in South Africa, the increase was to 30 percent from 22 percent.

According to available data, only seven countries in 2005 provided treatment, known as antiviral prophylaxis, to more than 40 per cent of HIV-infected pregnant women: Argentina, Brazil, Botswana, Jamaica, Russia, Thailand and Ukraine.

The study found the most successful results in nations that instituted a decentralized approach to service and training, demonstrated a political commitment and incorporated care for the entire family, from prevention to treatment.

But there are still 2.3 million children under 15 living with HIV around the world and only 10 percent in need of antroviral drugs had access to them, UNICEF said. An estimated one-third of infected infants die in their first year, and half die by their second birthday.