Objective To understand the mother-to-child transmission rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the use of drugs to prevent the transmission in China from 2004 to 2010. Methods English and Chinese databases including PubMed, Chinese Biomedical Literature database (CBM), etc. were searched to retrieve the relevant references from the start to May 2013. Quality evaluation of the included studies was performed with four criteria which was compiled according to AHRQ cross-sectional study evaluation standards and the STROBE statement. The sample size, recruitment venue and study year were taken as the main source of heterogeneity in meta regression analysis. The data was analyzed by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V2.0 software. Results A total of 2 356 references were retrieved, and 51 of them were finally included in meta-analysis. In 2004-2010, the mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV were 12.90%(95% CI: 7.48%-21.36%),16.35%(95% CI: 10.41%-24.73%),6.45%(95% CI: 3.73%-10.93%),6.25%(95% CI: 2.39%-15.36%),5.56%(95% CI: 2.79%-10.76%),3.10%(95% CI: 1.59%-5.97%), and 2.29%(95% CI: 1.36%-3.83%), respectively. Meanwhile, From 2004 to 2010, the drug use rates for HIV antiretroviral prophylaxis among pregnant women were 70.39%(95% CI: 24.42%-94.59%),71.99%(95% CI: 61.49%-80.54%),78.79%(95% CI: 70.19%-85.43%), 86.84%(95% CI: 79.24%-91.94%), 82.71%(95% CI: 76.62%-87.48%), 81.85%(95% CI: 75.55%-86.80%), and 86.16%(95% CI: 53.20%-97.15%), respectively. And in 2005-2010, the drug use rates for HIV antiretroviral prophylaxis among infants were 80.72%(95%CI: 72.89%-86.70%), 81.84%(95% CI:71.55%-88.98%), 85.43%(95% CI: 80.99%-88.97%), 89.75%(95% CI: 81.82%-94.45%), 92.39%(95% CI: 84.97%-96.31%), and 90.34%(95% CI: 85.50%-93.68%), respectively. Conclusion The HIV mother-to-child transmission rate is decreasing in China in recent years, and the drug use rates of HIV antiretroviral prophylaxis are increasing among HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants.