Low mother-to-child HIV transmission rate but high loss-to-follow-up among mothers and babies in Mandalay, Myanmar; a cohort study

Incidence of loss to follow-up and associated factors among mothers on antiretroviral therapy in the context of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in two health districts of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso

INTRODUCTION

Since 2017, Burkina Faso has rolled out a plan to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV (eMTCT). Elimination will only be achieved when mothers have regular follow-up and good compliance with antiretroviral therapy (ART). The aim of this article is to study the incidence and associated factors for loss to follow-up (LTFU ), in women living with HIV (WLHIV) monitored as part of the eMTCT.

METHODS

This study consisted of a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data from pregnant women who were screened and initiated ART in the Do and Dafra health districts of Bobo-Dioulasso between 2017 and 2020 as part of the eMTCT. The study ran from May 2023 to March 2024. The Kaplan-Meier model was used to estimate the rate of LTFU; the Cox model was used for identification of factors associated with LTFU and verification of Kaplan-Meier results.

RESULTS

Three hundred and four newly diagnosed pregnant WLHIV were included in this study. The median age of the mothers was 30 [24; 36] years. The incidence of LTFU was 22.9 per 100 person-years. Younger age (HR = 2.40; 95%CI: 1.37-4.20) was associated with a higher incidence of LTFU, whereas urban residence (HR = 0.57; 95%CI: 0.39-0.85), in contrast to rural residence, was associated with a lower incidence of LTFU.

CONCLUSION

The study showed a high incidence of LTFU, associated with younger age and rural residence, in the eMTCT programme in Burkina Faso.

Strategic HIV Case Findings among Infants at Different Entry Points of Health Facilities in Cameroon: Optimizing the Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission in Low- and- Middle-Income Countries

BACKGROUND

HIV case finding is an essential component for ending AIDS, but there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of such a strategy in the pediatric population. We sought to determine HIV positivity rates among children according to entry points in Cameroon.

METHODS

A facility-based survey was conducted from January 2015 to December 2019 among mother-child couples at various entry points of health facilities in six regions of Cameroon. A questionnaire was administered to parents/guardians. Children were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positivity rates were compared between entry points. Associations were quantified using the unadjusted positivity ratio (PR) for univariate analyses and the adjusted positivity ratio (aPR) for multiple Poisson regression analyses with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). p-values < 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Overall, 24,097 children were enrolled. Among them, 75.91% were tested through the HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program, followed by outpatient (13.27%) and immunization (6.27%) services. In total, PMTCT, immunization, and outpatient services accounted for 95.39% of children. The overall positivity was 5.71%, with significant differences (p < 0.001) between entry points. Univariate analysis showed that inpatient service (PR = 1.45; 95% CI: [1.08, 1.94]; p = 0.014), infant welfare (PR = 0.43; 95% CI: [0.28, 0.66]; p < 0.001), immunization (PR = 0.56; 95% CI: [0.45, 0.70]; p < 0.001), and PMTCT (PR = 0.41; 95% CI: [0.37, 0.46]; p < 0.001) were associated with HIV transmission. After adjusting for other covariates, only PMTCT was associated with transmission (aPR = 0.66; 95% CI: [0.51, 0.86]; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

While PMTCT accounts for most tested children, high HIV positivity rates were found among children presenting at inpatient, nutrition, and outpatient services and HIV care units. Thus, systematic HIV testing should be proposed for all sick children presenting at the hospital who have escaped the PMTCT cascade.

Characterization of HIV-Related Stigma in Myanmar

Characterizing HIV-related stigma and its impacts are important for interventions toward their elimination. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 to evaluate enacted and internalized stigma among adult people living with HIV (PLWH) across four cities in Myanmar using the India Stigma Index questionnaire. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to determine differences in measured enacted and internalized stigma outcomes. Among 1,006 participants, 89% reported any stigma indicator, 47% enacted stigma, and 87% internalized stigma. In regression analysis, city and duration of illness were associated with higher enacted stigma, and younger age was associated with higher internalized stigma. Those with HIV duration > 7.4 years had mean enacted stigma nearly 2 units higher than the overall mean. Internalized stigma increased with duration of illness and leveled off at 5 years. PLWH from smaller cities experienced lower stigma. In Myanmar, nearly 90% of PLWH experience stigma, results that reflect a unique transition point.

Low antiretroviral therapy uptake and low early retention among pregnant women who tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus in informal health centers in urban and semi-rural settings in Cameroon: a prospective cohort study

Introduction

Despite the efforts of Cameroon's Ministry of Public Health against informal health centers (IHCs) because of their illegitimacy, the number of IHCs is increasing in Cameroon. Most of these IHCs have antenatal care services and screen pregnant women for HIV. However, nothing is known about the subsequent outcomes of those who tested positive for HIV. This study aimed to assess the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in ART-naïve pregnant women screened HIV positive in IHCs within three months of diagnosis and their ART retention at three months post-initiation. In addition, we sought to identify the factors associated with ART non-initiation in this population.

Methods

May 01, 2019 to August 31, 2020, we carried out a prospective cohort study of ART-naïve pregnant women who attended their first antenatal care visit and screened HIV positive at IHCs in the cities of Douala and Ebolowa in Cameroon. Standardized questionnaires were used to interview consenting participants at three points: the day of the delivery of the antenatal HIV test result, three months later, and three months after ART initiation. The data collected were entered into KoboCollect and analyzed using SPSS V23.0 software. The Chi-square test was used to compare proportions, Kaplan Meier techniques and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate retention in ART and identify factors associated with ART non-retention, respectively.

Results and discussion

A total of 85 ART-naïve pregnant women living with HIV were enrolled in the study. The median age and gestational age at the first antenatal care visit were 29 years (interquartile range (IQR), 2333.5) and 28weeks of amenorrhea (IQR, 2032), respectively. Only 34% (29/85) initiated ART, and 65.5% (19/29) of the initiators were retained in ART three months later. Lack of perceived self-efficacy to initiate ART (adjust Hazard Ratio = 5.57, 90% CI: 1.29 to 24.06), increased the probability of not be retaining in ART by any time during three months post initiation. Given the low ART uptake and the low retention in care among pregnant women living with HIV screened in IHCs, PMTCT policies in Cameroon should pay greater attention to this population, to facilitate their continuum of PMTCT care.

Incidence and predictors of loss to follow-up among pregnant and lactating women in the Option B+ PMTCT program in Northwestern Ethiopia: a seven-year retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Although Ethiopia has implemented the Option B+ program over the past 7 years, loss to follow-up among HIV-positive women remains a major problem for antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment. This study was conducted to investigate the number of women who dropped out of follow-up after the Option B+ program.

Methods

A retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 403 pregnant and lactating women between June 2013 and December 2019 at health facilities in Northwest Ethiopia. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify predictors of loss to follow-up. The results were reported as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) at a significance level of p = 0.05.

Results

The overall incidence rate of loss to follow-up was 9.4 per 1,000 person-months of observation (95% CI: 7.40-11.90). According to the multivariable Cox regression, rural residency [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 2.30; 95% CI: 1.08-4.88], being a Muslim religion follower (AHR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.23-4.81), having no baseline viral load measurement (AHR: 4.21; 95% CI: 2.23-7.96), being on ART before enrolment (AHR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.15-0.62), having drug side effects (AHR:1.82; 95% CI: 1.01-3.33), same-day ART initiation (AHR: 3.23; 95% CI: 1.53-6.84), and having suboptimal adherence level (AHR: 3.96; 95% CI: 2.18-7.19) were significant predictors of loss to follow-up.

Conclusion

The incidence of loss to follow-up is lower as compared to evidence from most African countries but slightly higher than the WHO target. It is better to strengthen and expand viral load measurements for all women and to pay attention to women residing in rural areas with fair or poor adherence levels.

Experiences of Mothers Living With HIV in a South African Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Programme: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

ABSTRACT

More than 90% of all HIV infections in children result from mother to child transmission. Elimination of mother-child transmission is a global priority and vital for the improvement of child survival in high-burden, limited resource settings. Retention in HIV care is vital to reduce transmission risk. This qualitative study explored the experiences and adherence challenges of mothers living with HIV of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa. Interviews were conducted with purposively selected participants enrolled in a PMTCT programme at a primary care facility. Thematic analysis generated six themes. Findings demonstrate the complexity of living as a woman with HIV in a socioeconomically disadvantaged and marginalized periurban community. For each woman, there is a set of concerns relating to person, home, community, and clinic which may affect her understanding, acceptance of, and adherence to the PMTCT programme.

Evaluation of peer-to-peer HIV counseling in Myanmar: a measure of knowledge, adherence, and barriers

In Myanmar, an Asian country with one of the highest HIV-1 prevalence rates, counseling prior to initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) is standard care, either by a healthcare worker (standard counselor, SC) or trained counselor who is also living with HIV (peer counselor, PC). PC is commonly utilized in Myanmar and other resource-limited settings. However, its benefit over SC is unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of people living with HIV (PLWH), who completed either only PC or only SC before treatment initiation across four cities in Myanmar. Participants were evaluated for HIV knowledge, stigma, antiretroviral adherence, barriers to care, social support satisfaction and attitudes regarding both counseling processes. Bivariate analyses and multivariable mixed effects modeling were conducted to compare differences in these measures among PC and SC participants. Among 1006 participants (49% PC; 51% SC), 52% were females and median age was 37 years in those receiving PC and 40 years in those receiving SC. More than 70% of participants in both groups achieved up to grade school education. The average duration since HIV diagnosis was 4.6 years for PC and 5.7 years for SC participants. HIV knowledge and attitudes regarding counseling were good in both groups and more PC participants credited their HIV counselor for knowledge (75% vs 63%, p < 0.001). Compared to SC, PC participants had lower enacted stigma (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 0.75, Confidence Interval (CI) [0.65, 0.86]), mean internalized stigma (-0.24, CI [-0.34, -0.14]), and risk of antiretroviral therapy non-adherence (Odds Ratio 0.59, CI [0.40, 0.88]), while reporting higher levels of barriers to care (9.63, CI [8.20, 11.75]). Our findings demonstrate potential benefits of PC compared to SC, and support the utilization of PC to enhance HIV health outcomes within the unique societal and geographical context of Myanmar, and possibly beyond.

Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Through Breastfeeding Improving Awareness and Education: A Short Narrative Review

Despite critical progress registered in the reduction of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV worldwide, transmission through breastfeeding still contributes to almost 50% of pediatric HIV infections recorded every year. In this short narrative review, after development of an extensive background on HIV and breastfeeding, some directions are suggested to address the key bottlenecks. Specifically, reinforcing the prevention of MTCT through breastfeeding (BF) in order to move towards elimination of MTCT prior to 2030 may require, among others strategies: tracking all women of child bearing age through HIV testing, improving testing and retesting of women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, strengthening adherence on antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant and lactating women, ensuring continuum and retention in care of mother and baby-pairs up to 24 months, switching ART in non-viral suppressed mothers after improvement of adherence counseling. In addition, due to the burden of seroconversion during pregnancy or thereafter through BF, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP) for most at risk women should be implemented urgently. The opportunity to extend the infant prophylaxis to the whole lactating period should be assessed to address residual transmission amongst viral suppressed mothers.

Stigma Determines Antiretroviral Adherence in Adults With HIV in Myanmar

INTRODUCTION

Understanding social and structural barriers that determine antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence can improve care. Assessment of such factors is limited in Myanmar, a country with high HIV prevalence and increasing number of people living with HIV initiating ART.

METHODS

Questionnaires were administered to adults with HIV across 4 Myanmar cities to estimate adherence and its potential determinants, including HIV knowledge, social support, barriers to care, enacted and internalized stigma, and engagement in peer-to-peer HIV counseling (PC). Associations were determined using logistic mixed-effects modeling.

RESULTS

Among 956 participants, the mean age was 39 years, 52% were female, 36% had CD4 <350 cells/mm3, and 50% received pre-ART PC. Good adherence was reported by 74% of participants who had better HIV knowledge than those reporting nonadherence. Among nonadherent, 44% were forgetful and 81% were careless about taking ART. Among all participants, most (53%) were very satisfied with their social support and 79% reported lack of financial resources as barriers to care. Participants most frequently reported being viewed differently by others (30%) and feeling as if they were paying for past karma or sins because of their HIV diagnosis (66%). Enacted stigma (odds ratio 0.86; 95% confidence interval 0.79 to 0.92, P < 0.01) and internalized stigma (odds ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.56 to 0.95, P = 0.023) were associated with worse adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased self-reported ART adherence in Myanmar is associated with less enacted and internalized stigma. These findings suggest the benefit of developing and promoting adherence interventions, which are focused on mitigating HIV-related stigma in the county.

Gaps in the Care Cascade among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Exposed Infants Born in 2017 in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe

Introduction:

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is a key strategy for ending the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. Most studies have focused on the mothers' side of the PMTCT cascade or the rate of vertical HIV transmission. Information on child-focused cascade is limited. We aimed to evaluate HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis uptake and associated factors among HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) born in 2017.

Methods:

This was a record-based descriptive study in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe. We analyzed routinely collected program data abstracted from electronic and paper-based HEI registers. Uptakes were calculated as proportions while associations were measured using adjusted risk ratios (log-binomial regression).

Results:

Of 1028 HEIs, 1015 (98.7%) were commenced on nevirapine prophylaxis, while 915 (89.0%) were commenced on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. A total of 880 (85.0%) HEIs were tested for HIV by 6 weeks and 445 (44.4%) by 9 months. Overall, 40 (3.9%) were found to be HIV positive, and of them, 34 (85.0%) commenced on ART. Secondary and tertiary health facilities, being born through nonvaginal delivery, and certain districts were significantly associated with not commencing cotrimoxazole prophylaxis or getting tested for HIV. One district was associated with less risk of not having an HIV test by 9 months.

Conclusions:

While nevirapine, cotrimoxazole, and ART uptake were high among the HEIs, HIV testing by 9 months was suboptimal. The vertical HIV transmission rate was 3.9%. There is a need to strengthen HIV testing and antiretroviral and cotrimoxazole prophylaxes, especially at high-level facilities and certain districts.

Outcomes of retained and disengaged pregnant women living with HIV in Uganda

Introduction

Loss-to-follow-up among women living with HIV (WLWHIV) may lead to unfavorable outcomes for both mother and exposed infant. This study traced WLWHIV disengaged from care and their infants and compared their outcomes with those retained in care.

Methods

The study included WLWHIV who initiated ART during pregnancy at six public clinics in Uganda. A woman was defined as disengaged (DW) if she had not attended her 6-week post-partum visit by 10 weeks after her estimated date of delivery. DW were matched with retained women (RW) by age and duration on ART. Nurse counselors traced all selected DW via telephone and community visits to assess vital status, infant HIV sero-status and maternal HIV viral load through blood draws.

Results

Between July 2017 and July 2018, 734 women (359 DW and 375 RW) were identified for the study. Tracing was attempted on 349 DW and 160 (44.6%) were successfully located and enrolled in the study. They were matched with 162 RW. Among DW, 52 (32.5%) transferred to another health facility. Very few DW, 39.0% were HIV virally suppressed (<1000 copies/ml) compared to RW 89.5%, P<0.001). Among 138 babies born to DW, 4.3% tested positive for HIV compared to 1.4% among babies born to RW (P = 0.163).

Conclusion

Pregnant and breastfeeding WLWHIV who disengage from care are difficult to find in urban environments. Many have detectable viral loads, leading to the potential for an increased risk of MTCT. Efforts to reduce disengagement from care are critical for the successful elimination of MTCT in resource-limited settings.

Epidemiological features of HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa from 1990 to 2017

The growing trend of HIV/AIDS is a major concern in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions, as its incidence in the region has increased by 31% in the last decade. The study population in the countries of the MENA region included 21 countries with a population of approximately 400 million. The Global Burden of Disease database was used to calculate the number of HIV/AIDS cases. Modeling for each country is based on the availability and quality of data. The highest incidence rates of HIV/AIDS were in Sudan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tunisia, and Iran, respectively, and the highest mortality rates were in Sudan, UAE, Oman, and Morocco, respectively. The incidence, prevalence and mortality rates, as well as the disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rate declined in 2017 compared to 1990. The highest percentage of changes in DALY rates was reported for Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Sudan, respectively, and the lowest for Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. In general, unsafe sex had the highest impact on the DALY index in all countries in the region except Iran and Bahrain. Policymakers should therefore be encouraged to develop harm reduction programs for people living with HIV, and invest globally in reducing HIV prevalence rates in commercial sex workers, people who inject drugs, and men who have sex with men in the region, as well as eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Loss to follow up of pregnant women with HIV and infant HIV outcomes in the prevention of maternal to child transmission of HIV programme in two high-burden provinces in Papua New Guinea: a retrospective clinical audit

INTRODUCTION

Despite early adoption of the WHO guidelines to deliver lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) regimen to pregnant women on HIV diagnosis, the HIV prevention of mother to child transmission programme in Papua New Guinea remains suboptimal. An unacceptable number of babies are infected with HIV and mothers not retained in treatment. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of this programme and to investigate the factors associated with programme performance outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical records of HIV-positive pregnant women at two hospitals providing prevention of mother to child transmission services. All women enrolled in the prevention of mother to child transmission programme during the study period (June 2012-June 2015) were eligible for inclusion. Using logistic regression, we examined the factors associated with maternal loss to follow-up (LTFU) before birth and before infant registration in a paediatric ARV programme.

RESULTS

763 of women had records eligible for inclusion. Demographic and clinical differences existed between women at the two sites. Almost half (45.1%) of the women knew their HIV-positive status prior to the current pregnancy. Multivariate analysis showed that women more likely to be LTFU by the time of birth were younger (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.92, 95% CI 1.16 to 7.63), were newly diagnosed with HIV in the current/most recent pregnancy (AOR=3.50, 95% CI 1.62 to 7.59) and were in an HIV serodiscordant relationship (AOR=2.94, 95% CI 1.11 to 7.84). Factors associated with maternal LTFU before infant registration included being primipara at the time of enrolment (AOR=3.13, 95% CI 1.44 to 6.80) and being newly diagnosed in that current/most recent pregnancy (AOR=2.49, 95% CI 1.31 to 4.73). 6.6% (50 of 763) of exposed infants had a positive HIV DNA test.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlighted predictors of LTFU among women. Understanding these correlates at different stages of the programme offers important insights for targets and timing of greater support for retention in care.

The perceived determinants and recommendations by mothers and healthcare professionals on the loss-to-follow-up in Option B+ program and child mortality in the Amhara region, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The third United Nations Sustainable Development Goal includes a commitment to end AIDS-related death by 2030. In line with the Goal, Option B+ programs hold a great promise for eliminating vertical transmission of HIV. Option B+ was introduced in 2013 in Ethiopia. The Global Plan identified Ethiopia as one of 22 high priority countries requiring improvement in prevention of mother to child HIV transmission services. Despite HIV treatment being free in Ethiopia, only 59% of children are on treatment. The discrepancies in high uptake of Option B+ and low numbers of children in Ethiopia can be attributed to Loss-to-follow-up, which is estimated from 16 to 80%. While LFTU is expected in the region, no-to-minimal evidence exists on the magnitude and its determinants, which hampers the development of interventions and strategies to reduce LFTU. The purpose of this study is to explore perception of mothers and healthcare providers on determinants of and recommendations to reduce LTFU and HIV exposed infants' mortality.

METHOD

Explorative, descriptive qualitative study conducted in five zones of Amhara region. The sample consisted of mothers enrolled to the option B+ programs at the five referral hospitals PMTCT departments, nurses and midwives working in those departments, and HIV officers in zonal departments. Data were collected in 2019 using in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using content analysis and deduced to themes.

RESULTS

Overall, nine themes were identified from the interviews. Five themes represented the determinants of LTFU and mortality while four themes addressed the recommendations to reduce LFTU among mothers and their infant mortality. The determinants themes centered on apathy, stigma and discrimination, poor access to services, healthcare providers behavior and attitudes, and social determinants of health. While recommendations themes suggested that improving access, capitalizing on psychosocial support, education and awareness, and empowerment.

CONCLUSIONS

Social and structural issues are major contributors to low retention of mothers and death of children due to HIV. A multi-stakeholder approach, including structural changes, are required to support women and their children to ensure that individuals, communities and country enjoy the full benefits of option B+ and lead to an HIV free generation.

Caregiver experience and perceived acceptability of a novel near point-of-care early infant HIV diagnostic test among caregivers enrolled in the PMTCT program, Myanmar: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The majority of HIV infection among children occurs through mother-to-child transmission. HIV exposed infants are recommended to have virological testing at birth or 4-6 weeks of age but challenges with centralized laboratory-based testing in Myanmar result in low testing rates and delays in result communication and treatment initiation. Decentralized point-of-care (POC) testing when integrated in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services, can be an alternative to increase coverage of early infant diagnosis (EID) and timely engagement in HIV treatment and care.

AIM

This paper aims to explore experiences of caregivers of HIV-exposed infants enrolled in the PMTCT program in Myanmar and the perceived acceptability of point-of-care EID testing compared to conventional centralised laboratory-based testing.

METHODS

This is a sub-study of the cluster randomised controlled stepped-wedge trial (Trial registration number: ACTRN12616000734460) that assessed the impact of near POC EID testing using Xpert HIV-1 Qual assay in four public hospitals in Myanmar. Caregivers of infants who were enrolled in the intervention phase of the main study, had been tested with both Xpert and standard of care tests and had received the results were eligible for this qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 caregivers. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Thematic data analysis was undertaken using NVivo 12 Software (QSR International).

RESULTS

The majority of caregivers were satisfied with the quality of care provided by PMTCT services. However, they encountered social and financial access barriers to attend the PMTCT clinic regularly. Mothers had concerns about community stigma from the disclosure of their HIV status and the potential consequences for their infants. While medical care at the PMTCT clinics was free, caregivers sometimes experienced financial difficulties associated with out-of-pocket expenses for childbirth and transportation. Some caregivers had to choose not to attend work (impacting their income) or the adult antiretroviral clinic in order to attend the paediatric PMTCT clinic appointment. The acceptability of the Xpert testing process was high among the caregiver participants and more than half received the Xpert result on the same day as testing. Short turnaround time of the near POC EID testing enabled the caregivers to find out their infants' HIV status quicker, thereby shortening the stressful waiting time for results.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified important access challenges facing caregivers of HIV exposed infants and high acceptability of near POC EID testing. Improving the retention rate in the PMTCT and EID programs necessitates careful attention of program managers and policy makers to these challenges, and POC EID represents a potential solution.

Lost to Follow-up and Predictors Among HIV-Exposed Infants in Northwest Ethiopia

Introduction

Even though advancement in mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention services is observed, many infants are lost to follow-up and could not access the full package of mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention services as a result. This is one of the obstacles to the effectiveness of the program. Therefore, determining the magnitude of lost to follow-up and its predictors is important among HIV-exposed infants.

Method

This institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted from August 2013 to June 2018 at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. We retrieved charts of 423 child–mother pairs through a simple random sampling technique. Data collectors extracted data by using a data extraction tool adapted from the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health HIV-exposed infant follow-up form. Bivariable and multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to identify predictors of lost to follow-up.

Result

A total of 402 child–mother pairs were included in the study. Of the study participants, 6.0% were lost to follow-up for more than 3 months before the declaration of their HIV status. Born from rural residence mother (AHR = 3.5; 95% CI 1.549–7.894), infants whose mothers have three and more children (AHR = 3; 95% CI 1.284–6.963), and low birth weight infants (AHR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.055–9.450) were independent predictors of lost to follow-up among HIV-exposed infants.

Conclusion

Significant numbers of infants were unable to access full HIV diagnosis and care services as a result of loss to follow-up. Special consideration for mothers having large numbers of children, rural residence, and low birth weight infants could be an important intervention to decrease lost to follow-up.

Integration of HIV services with primary care in Yangon, Myanmar: a retrospective cohort analysis

OBJECTIVES

Integration of HIV care with general healthcare may improve patient engagement. We assessed patient outcomes in four clinics offering HIV care integrated into primary care clinics in Yangon, Myanmar.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective cohort analysis of 4551 patients who started antiretroviral therapy between 2009 and 2017. Mortality and disengagement from care were assessed using Cox regression.

RESULTS

People living with HIV presented late with low CD4 counts [median (25^th , 75^th percentile) = 178 (65, 308) from 4216 patients] and advanced HIV (69% with stage 3 or 4). Survival was 0.95 at 1 year and 0.90 at 5 years. Males were at a higher risk of mortality than females [unadjusted hazard ratio (uHR) = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.3-2.0). Patients linked to HIV care via antenatal care or partner/parent notification were at reduced risk of mortality [uHR = 0.4 (95% CI: 0.1-1.0) and uHR = 0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.7)] relative to patients who presented for HIV testing. The cumulative incidence of disengagement was 0.06 at 1 year and 0.15 at 5 years. Young adults had a higher risk of disengagement than did children and older patients. Women linked to HIV care via antenatal care services were at increased risk of disengagement relative to patients who came for HIV testing (uHR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-3.4). Mortality and disengagement remained steady over calendar time as the programme scaled up.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV care within a primary care model is effective to attain early linkage to care, with high survival. However, close attention should be given to disengagement from care, in particular for pregnant women.

Incidence and predictors of lost to follow-up among women under Option B+ PMTCT program in western Ethiopia: a retrospective follow-up study

Objective

Although Ethiopia has been implementing Option B+ program, LTFU of women from the Option B+ program is one of the challenges that minimizes its implementation. Thus, this study assessed the incidence and predictors of LTFU among women under Option B+ PMTCT program in western Ethiopia. An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted. A cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted to identify predictors of LTFU. A Hazard ratios with 95% confidence CI was computed and all predictors that were associated with the outcome variable at p-value ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable cox proportional hazards were declared as a significance predictor of the outcome.

Results

A total of 330 women were followed for a mean follow up time of 16.9 (± 7.6) months. An overall incidence rate of LTFU was 9/1000 person-months. Women’s educational status, residence, HIV-disclosure status, the status of women at enrollment, previous history of HIV and ART adherence were significant predictors of LTFU. The incidence of LTFU from Option B+ PMTCT is lower as compared to evidence from sub-Saharan African and strengthening linkage and referral system between clinics as well as establishing appropriates tracing mechanisms would retain pregnant women in the program.

Initiation of antiretroviral therapy or antiretroviral prophylaxis in pregnant women living with HIV registered in five townships of Mandalay, Myanmar: A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

A series of interventions are required to prevent mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) starting from HIV testing of pregnant women, initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) or antiretroviral prophylaxis to HIV-positive pregnant women to providing HIV prophylaxis to newborn babies. Gaps in each step can significantly affect the effectiveness of PMTCT interventions. We aimed to determine the gap in initiation of ART/antiretroviral prophylaxis for pregnant women living with HIV, delay in initiation of ART/antiretroviral prophylaxis and factors associated with the delay.

METHODS

This is a cross sectional study using routinely collected programme data from five health facilities providing PMTCT services located at Township Health Departments (THD) of Mandalay, Myanmar.

RESULTS

There were 363 pregnant women living with HIV enrolled between January 2012 and December 2017. Sixty (16%) women were excluded from the study due to missing data on dates of HIV diagnosis. Of 303 (84%) women included in the study, 89/303 (29%) and 214/303 (71%) were diagnosed with HIV before and during current pregnancy respectively. Among 214 women, 180 (84%) women were started on ART by the censor date (31st March 2018). Among those who started ART, 109 (61%) women had a delay of starting ART > 2 weeks from diagnosis. Women residing in township 4 had a significantly higher risk of delay in initiation of ART/antiretroviral prophylaxis compared to women residing in township 1 [adjusted prevalence ratio 4.2 (95% confidence interval 1.2-14.8].

CONCLUSIONS

We found that one in four women living with HIV knew their HIV status before current pregnancy. Although the rate of ART/antiretroviral prophylaxis initiation was high among pregnant women living with HIV, there was a delay. Early initiation of ART/antiretroviral prophylaxis among newly HIV diagnosed pregnant women needs to be strengthened.

Access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV along HIV services cascade through integrated active case management in 15 operational districts in Cambodia

INTRODUCTION

Following the introduction of option B+ in 2013, and with the perspective of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2025, Cambodia has implemented an integrated active case management (IACM) approach since 2014 to improve the notification and follow-up of all HIV-infected cases including pregnant women, and to ensure access to and use of the full prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) service package by HIV-infected pregnant women and their HIV-exposed infants. This study aimed to analyse PMTCT cascade data in 15 operational districts (ODs) implementing the IACM approach in Cambodia.

METHODS

We analysed PMTCT cohort data from 15 ODs implementing IACM approach between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2016. We measured key indicators along the PMTCT cascade and compared them to available (cross-sectional) PMTCT indicators during the 2011 to 2013 period.

RESULTS

During the period 2014 to 2016, among 938 identified HIV-infected pregnant women, 308 (32.8%) were tested HIV positive during their pregnancy, 9 (1.0%) during labour, while the remaining 621 (66.2%) were women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) who became pregnant. During the study period, 867 (92.4%) of the 938 women received ART during pregnancy and labour. Subsequently, 456 (85.6%) of the 533 HEI born and alive during the study period received 6-week antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis, 390 (76.6%) and 396 (77.8%) of the 509 infants aged six weeks or older received cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and HIV-DNA PCR test respectively. Among the 396 HEI who received HIV-DNA PCR test, 7 (1.8%) were found HIV positive. The comparison with cross-sectional PMTCT indicator obtained during the previous 2011 to 2013 period in the same 15 ODs, showed a significant increase in ARV uptake among HIV-infected pregnant women (from 72.3% to 92.4%), in cotrimoxazole uptake (from 41.6% to 73.2%), and in HIV-DNA PCR testing coverage among HEI (from 41.2% to 74.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of option B+ and IACM may have contributed to the improvement of the PMTCT cascade in Cambodia. However, some gaps in accessing PMTCT services along the HIV cascade persist and need to be addressed.

Examining engagement in care of women living with HIV in South India

HIV seropositive adherence-challenged women, who reported being on ART for at least four months were interviewed. Data on healthcare history, anti-retroviral therapy, clinic visits, doctor communication, disclosure and fear of stigma were collected. Better engagement in care was significantly more likely among older women, ≥ 10 years of education, higher income, HIV status disclosure to family, with higher community stigma fears and fewer healthcare access barriers. To promote retention, women may be encouraged to consider disclosing their HIV serostatus to supportive household members. A variety of possible interventions to overcome the prevalent barriers to care are provided.

Point-of-care HIV testing best practice for early infant diagnosis: an implementation study

Background

With Universal Health Coverage and Integrated People-centred Health Care, streamlined health-systems and respectful care are necessary. South Africa has made great strides in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) but with the great burden of HIV, a minimum of birth and 10-week HIV-PCR testing are required for the estimated 360,000 HIV-exposed infants born annually which presents many challenges including delayed results and loss to follow-up. Point-of-care (POC) HIV testing of infants addresses these challenges well and facilitates initiation of HIV-infected infants rapidly after diagnosis for best clinical outcomes.

Methods

Objectives were to determine accuracy, feasibility and acceptability of POC testing compared to standard-of-care (SOC) central-laboratory testing. HIV-exposed infants for birth PCR testing in hospital (n = 323) and follow-up at a primary health care clinic (n = 117) in Durban, South Africa were included. A baseline situational-analysis reviewed registers and phoned mothers of HIV-exposed infants prior to the intervention. An effectiveness-implementation study of the Alere™q HIV-1/2 Detect POC test (heel-prick specimen processed in 50 min) was compared with SOC with questionnaires to mothers and staff. Stata 14 was used for analysis.

Results

At baseline 2% of birth HIV tests were missed; only 40% of mothers could be contacted; 17% did not receive birth test result; 19% did not have a 10-week test; 39% had not received the 10-week results. There were 5(1.5%) HIV-infected and 318(98.5%) HIV-negative infants detected in hospital with all clinic babies negative. All positive infants commenced ART before discharge. Ultimately POC and SOC had perfect concordance but for 10 SOC tests researchers actively tracked-down results or repeated tests. Turn around times for SOC tests were on average 8-days (IQR 6-10  days) and for POC testing was 0-days. The POC error-rate was 9,6% with all giving a result when repeated. The majority of mothers (92%) preferred POC testing with 7% having no preference. No staff preferred SOC testing with 79% preferring POC and 21% having no preference.

Conclusions

Point-of-care HIV testing for EID is accurate, feasible and acceptable, with benefits of early ART for all positive infants at birth facilities. We recommend that it be considered best practice for EID.

Trial registration

ISRCTN38911104 registered 9 January 2018 – retrospectively registered.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6990-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Uptake of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive women ever enrolled into 'prevention of mother to child transmission' programme, Mandalay, Myanmar-a cohort study

Background

Early initiation and longer duration of anti-retroviral therapy either as prophylaxis (pARV) or lifelong treatment (ART) in HIV-positive pregnant women prior to delivery has a huge impact in reducing mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, maternal morbidity, mortality and increasing retention in care. In this study, we aimed to determine the following in a ‘prevention of mother-to-child transmission’ (PMTCT) programme in Central Women Hospital, Mandalay, Myanmar: i) uptake of ART and factors associated with the uptake ii) duration of ART/ pARV received by HIV-positive pregnant women prior to delivery, iii) factors associated with ART/ pARV initiation after delivery and iv) factors associated with shorter duration of ART/ pARV (≤ 8 weeks prior to delivery).

Method

This was a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected data from PMTCT programme. We used multivariable Cox proportional Hazard model or log binomial models to assess the association between socio-demographic and clinical factors with a) uptake of ART/pARV, b) initiation of ART/pARV after delivery, c) shorter (≤8 weeks) duration of ART/PARV prior to delivery.

Results

Of the 670 ART naïve HIV-positive women enrolled to PMTCT programme between March 2011 and December 2016, 588 (88%) were initiated on ART/pARV. In adjusted analysis, only pregnancy stage at enrolment was significantly associated with initiation of ART/pARV. Of 585 who had delivered babies on or before the censor date, 522 (89%) were on ART/pARV. Women who lived outside Mandalay were more likely to be initiated on ART after delivery (i.e., delayed ART initiation in those on ART). Among women who were initiated on ART/pARV before delivery (n = 468), only 59% got ART/pARV for > 8 weeks before delivery. Women whose spouses’ HIV status was not recorded had 40% higher risk of short duration of ART/pARV.

Conclusions

This study shows high uptake of ART/pARV among those enrolled into the PMTCT programme. However, about one in eight pregnant women did not receive ART before delivery. Among those initiated on ART/pARV before delivery, nearly half of them received ART/pARV for less than 8 weeks prior to delivery. These aspects need to be improved in order to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.