Spatial-temporal trend for mother-to-child transmission of HIV up to infancy and during pre-Option B+ in western Kenya, 2007-13

Positivity rate, trend and associated risk factors of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among HIV-exposed infants

BACKGROUND

Mother-To-Child-Transmission (MTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) occurs during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding, and cause infection among several new-borns. However, there is limited recent evidence on the burden of MTCT of HIV in Ethiopia from a large-scale data. Thus, this study aimed to determine the positivity rate, trend and associated risk factors of MTCT among HIV-exposed infants.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5,679 infants whose specimen referred to Ethiopian Public Health Institute HIV referral laboratory for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) from January 01, 2016, to December 31, 2020. Data were extracted from the national EID database. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the data on characteristics of infants. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with positivity rate of MTCT of HIV. Level of significance was set at 5%.

RESULTS

The mean age of the infants was 12.6 (± 14.6) weeks with an age range of 4 to 72 weeks. Half of the infants (51.4%) were female. The positivity rate of MTCT decreased from 2.9% in 2016 to 0.9% in 2020 with five-year average positivity rate of 2.6%. HIV test after six weeks (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.8-4.0,)); p < 0.001), absence of prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) service (AOR = 4.6; 95% CI: (2.9-7.4)); p = 0.001), nevirapine prophylaxis not received (AOR = 2.0; 95% CI: (1.3-3.2)); p < 0.001), and unknown ART status of the mother at delivery (AOR = 11; 95% CI: (5.5-22.1)); p < 0.001) were significantly associated with MTCT of HIV.

CONCLUSION

The positivity rate of MTCT of HIV was showing declining tendency gradually in the study period. Strengthening PMTCT service, early HIV screening and starting ART for pregnant women, and early infant diagnosis are required to reduce the burden of HIV infection among infants exposed to HIV.

Evolution of prevention of vertical HIV transmission in Uganda: 2008–2017

OBJECTIVES

Uganda adapted its policy for prevention of vertical transmission (VT) of HIV transmission as the World Health Organization released Options A, B and B+. We assessed trends in diagnostic testing, breastfeeding practices, maternal and infant antiretroviral therapy (ART), mortality, VT and HIV-free survival (HFS) among Ugandan infants born to women living with HIV during this period of successive guideline changes.

METHODS

This is is a retrospective observational study of infants attending early infant diagnosis clinics at two Ugandan hospitals.

RESULTS

A total of 1885 infants (48% female) were managed from 2009 to 2017. DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for early infant diagnosis was performed on 1719 infants (92%, one or more PCR tests) and 676 infants (36%, two PCR tests). HIV serology was performed on 90 infants (4.8%). Testing increased over the study period but remained suboptimal, due to high loss to follow-up (LTFU). A total of 93% of infants were breastfed, for a median of 9.5 months. The duration of breast milk exposure increased over the study period, consistent with guidelines that increasingly encouraged breastfeeding. Nine cases (0.48%) of suspected breast milk transmission were observed. The use of ART increased significantly over the study period. Mortality (3.5%, 2.7% and 1.1%; p = 0.0076) and VT (17%, 12% and 7.4%; p < 0.0001) decreased over the study period (2008-2010, 2011-2012 and 2013-2017, respectively). LTFU values were 31%, 49% and 59% at 6, 12 and 18 months of age, respectively, with only modest improvements over time. HFS could only be conclusively documented in 532 infants (28%) because of LTFU.

CONCLUSIONS

From 2009 to 2017, outcomes improved among HIV-exposed infants in Uganda. LTFU remains a barrier to optimal care.

Spatial variability of mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus transmission in a province in the Brazilian Rainforest: An ecological study

The mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a serious public health problem in the Brazilian Rainforest. This study aimed to spatially analyze this type of infection between 2007 and 2018 in Pará, which is the second-largest Brazilian state in the Brazilian Rainforest and also has the highest MTCT of HIV in Brazil. We analyzed the incidence rates of HIV (including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by MTCT as the main route of infection in children younger than 13 years old and whose mothers live in Pará. We employed spatial autocorrelation, spatial scanning, and geographic-weighted spatial regression techniques. In the period of this study, 389 new HIV/AIDS were noted, with territorial expansion of the incidence rates in the municipalities in northern and southern Pará having the highest rates. São Francisco do Pará had high spatial risk and high-spatiotemporal risk clusters comprising municipalities in western and south-western Pará between 2013 and 2016. The spatial variability of HIV/AIDS incidence rates was found to be common in the number of men and women with formal jobs; unemployed ≥18 years old people; elementary school pupils; and families enrolled in the "Single Registry for Social Programs". The social equity approach in Pará guarantee pregnant women access to preventive, diagnostic and treatment health services and their children should be supported to eliminate the MTCT of HIV in Pará.

Causes of death in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children aged under-five years in western Kenya

OBJECTIVES

Describe the causes of death among infants and children less than 5 years stratified by HIV status.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of causes of death ascertained through minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) in the Kenya Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance site.

METHODS

We included decedents aged 28 days to less than 5 years, whose death was reported within 36 h, underwent MITS, and had HIV test results and causes of death determined. MITS specimens were tested using Taqman Array Cards, culture, cytology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry and HIV PCR. A panel evaluated epidemiologic, clinical, verbal autopsy and laboratory data to assign causes of death using ICD-10 guidelines. Causes of death and etiological agents were stratified by HIV status.

RESULTS

Of 176 included decedents, 14% (n = 25) were HIV-infected, median viral load was 112 205 copies/ml [interquartile range (IQR) = 9349-2 670 143). HIV-disease (96%; n = 24) and malnutrition (23%; n = 34) were the leading underlying causes of death in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected decedents, respectively. Malnutrition was more frequent in the causal chain of HIV-infected (56%; n = 14) than HIV-uninfected decedents (31%; n = 49) (P value = 0.03). Viral pneumonia was twice as common in HIV-infected (50%; n = 9) than HIV-uninfected decedents (22%; n = 7) (P value = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Nearly all HIV-infected decedents' underlying cause of death was HIV disease, which was associated with malnutrition. Our findings underscore the need for strengthening early identification and management of HIV-infected children. Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition could be instrumental in improving the survival of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children.

Mapping geographic clusters of new HIV diagnoses to inform granular-level interventions for HIV epidemic control in western Kenya

BACKGROUND

As countries make progress towards HIV epidemic control, there is increasing need to identify finer geographic areas to target HIV interventions. We mapped geographic clusters of new HIV diagnoses, and described factors associated with HIV-positive diagnosis, in order to inform targeting of HIV interventions to finer geographic areas and sub-populations.

METHODS

We analyzed data for clients aged > 15 years who received home-based HIV testing as part of a routine public health program between May 2016 and July 2017 in Siaya County, western Kenya. Geospatial analysis using Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic was used to detect geographic clusters (radius < 5 kilometers) of new HIV diagnoses. Factors associated with new HIV diagnosis were assessed in a spatially-integrated Bayesian hierarchical model.

RESULTS

Of 268,153 clients with HIV test results, 2906 (1.1%) were diagnosed HIV-positive. We found spatial variation in the distribution of new HIV diagnoses, and identified nine clusters in which the number of new HIV diagnoses was significantly (1.56 to 2.64 times) higher than expected. Sub-populations with significantly higher HIV-positive yield identified in the multivariable spatially-integrated Bayesian model included: clients aged 20-24 years [adjusted relative risk (aRR) 3.45, 95% Bayesian Credible Intervals (CI) 2.85-4.20], 25-35 years (aRR 4.76, 95% CI 3.92-5.81) and > 35 years (aRR 2.44, 95% CI 1.99-3.00); those in polygamous marriage (aRR 1.84, 95% CI 1.55-2.16), or separated/divorced (aRR 3.36, 95% CI 2.72-4.08); and clients who reported having never been tested for HIV (aRR 2.35, 95% CI 2.02-2.72), or having been tested > 12 months ago (aRR 1.53, 95% CI 1.41-1.66).

CONCLUSION

Our study used routine public health program data to identify granular geographic clusters of higher new HIV diagnoses, and sub-populations with higher HIV-positive yield in the setting of a generalized HIV epidemic. In order to target HIV testing and prevention interventions to finer granular geographic areas for maximal epidemiologic impact, integrating geospatial analysis into routine public health programs can be useful.

Rate of the HIV Transmission and Associated Factors Among HIV-Exposed Infants in Guangxi, China: 2014-2019

This study aims to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and identify the possible factors leading to infant HIV infection using a retrospective cohort study of early infant diagnosis (EID). Information on a total of 3,145 exposed infant-mother pairs was collected from the EID platform from July 2014 to December 2019. The MTCT rate was 2.1%. Spatial-temporal maps showed that rates varied by year and by region, with four districts (Baise, Guigang, Guilin, and Hechi) maintaining rates of >2.0% in 2019. The rate of antiretroviral therapy (ART) use was 94.4%, with a gradual increase in prescriptions of highly active ART (HAART) from 83.0% in 2014 to 92.4% in 2019. A majority of 99.5% of infants were receiving artificial feeding. Factors associated with MTCT were ART use (odds ratio [OR] = 0.065, confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.035-0.121) and artificial feeding (OR = 0.091, 95% CI = 0.018-0.452). HAART was more helpful in decreasing the risk of MTCT compared with monotherapy (OR = 0.115, 95% CI = 0.014-0.933). ART during the postpartum period correlated with an increased risk (OR = 11.579, 95% CI = 1.402-95.960) compared with use of ART during pregnancy. This study indicates that MTCT rate of HIV is decreasing meaningfully in Guangxi. Some areas still face challenges in elimination of MTCT and need further resources and interventions. Future program planning should take into consideration the fact that ART use-in particular the use of HAART or ART during pregnancy-and replacement feeding may contribute to the prevention of MTCT.