The impact of a HIV prevention of mother to child transmission program in a nigerian early infant diagnosis centre

Mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among pregnant women with single, dual or triplex infections of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: To systematically review literature and identify mother-to-child transmission rates of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus among pregnant women with single, dual, or triplex infections of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus in Nigeria. PRISMA guidelines were employed. Searches were on 19 February 2021 in PubMed, Google Scholar and CINAHL on studies published from 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2021 using keywords: "MTCT," "dual infection," "triplex infection," "HIV," "HBV," and "HCV." Studies that reported mother-to-child transmission rate of at least any of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among pregnant women and their infant pairs with single, dual, or triplex infections of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus in Nigeria irrespective of publication status or language were eligible. Data were extracted independently by two authors with disagreements resolved by a third author. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird, to produce summary mother-to-child transmission rates in terms of percentage with 95% confidence interval. Protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO: CRD42020202070. The search identified 849 reports. After screening titles and abstracts, 25 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 18 were included for meta-analysis. We identified one ongoing study. Pooled mother-to-child transmission rates were 2.74% (95% confidence interval: 2.48%-2.99%; 5863 participants; 15 studies) and 55.49% (95% confidence interval: 35.93%-75.04%; 433 participants; three studies), among mother-infant pairs with mono-infection of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus, respectively, according to meta-analysis. Overall, the studies showed a moderate risk of bias. The pooled rate of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus was 2.74% and hepatitis B virus was 55.49% among mother-infant pairs with mono-infection of HIV and hepatitis B virus, respectively. No data exists on rates of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C virus on mono-infection or mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus among mother-infant pairs with dual or triplex infection of HIV, hepatitis B virus and HCV in Nigeria.

Evaluation of infants with HIV-infected mothers and perinatal transmission in Turkey: A single-center experience

OBJECTIVE:

The most common route of HIV infection in children is through perinatal transmission. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of infants with HIV-infected mothers and perinatal HIV transmission.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of HIV-exposed infants in between December 2017 and October 2019 in a Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital.

RESULTS:

A total of 18 infants were examined. All babies were born by cesarean section, and none of them were breastfed. Seventeen mothers were diagnosed with HIV before pregnancy. These mothers had received antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy, and their viral loads before delivery were negative. An antiretroviral prophylaxis with oral zidovudine was started in all infants within their 1^st day of birth and continued for at least 6 weeks. All infants were tested for their HIV viral load within the first 48 h of birth, with negative results, and 12 infants were tested for anti-HIV antibodies at the 18^th month, again with negative results. In this study, we determined that none of the infants had been infected with HIV.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings highlight the importance of initiating ART for all HIV-infected pregnant women and the importance of protection modalities during pregnancy, delivery, and the postnatal period for the prevention of perinatal transmission of HIV.

Trends and predictors of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in an era of protocol changes: Findings from two large health facilities in North East Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Research studies have demonstrated a reduction in the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) to less than 2%, or 5% in non-breastfeeding and breastfeeding populations, respectively, with antiretroviral interventions. However, the risk of MTCT in routine health-facility settings, where service delivery is usually sub-optimal needs monitoring.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective review of data from 2008-2014, in two health facilities in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate overall MTCT rate and MTCT rate by year, and period of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) protocol implementation. We conducted simple and multiple logistic-regression analyses, to identify predictors of MTCT.

RESULTS

Data from 1,651 mother-to-infant pairs, with HIV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) test results from 2008 (n = 49), 2009 (n = 246), 2010 (n = 280), 2011 (n = 335), 2012 (n = 290), 2013 (n = 225) and 2014 (n = 226) were analysed. The overall MTCT rate among HIV exposed infants (HEIs) was 9.7% (95% CI 8.3% - 11.1%) at a median age of 8 weeks (IQR = 6-20). The MTCT rate decreased from 14.3% (4.4%-24.2%) in 2008 to 4.9% (2.1%-7.7%) in 2014 (p = 0.016). The MTCT rate was the lowest (5.4% [3.7% - 7.0%]) when all pregnant women living with HIV received triple antiretroviral therapy, as treatment or prophylaxis (ARVT/P). Using the pooled data, we found that infant age, breastfeeding option, antiretroviral regimen and year were predictors of MTCT. The adjusted odds of MTCT were significantly higher, when neither mother nor HEI received ARVT/P (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 26.4 [14.0-49.8], and lower amongst infants born in 2012, compared with those born in 2008 (AOR 0.2 [0.0-1.0]).

CONCLUSION

The MTCT rate declined significantly between 2008 and 2014 in these two routine health-facility settings in Nigeria. Our study suggests that ARVT/P yields the lowest MTCT. Thus, efforts to scale up lifelong ARVT/P (Option B+) in Nigeria should be accelerated.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV and its predictors among HIV-exposed infants at Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon

Background

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, has been a major global public health burden. Despite the use of antiretroviral prophylaxis by HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants, safe obstetric practice and safe infant feeding habits in the prevention of MTCT of HIV, the prevalence of HIV among HIV-exposed infants is still high in Cameroon.

Objective

Our objectives were to determine the prevalence, assess the predictors and determine the effect of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on MTCT of HIV at the regional hospital in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Methods

This was a retrospective study. Secondary data from 877 HIV-exposed infants aged ≤ 72 weeks were extracted from the records between January 2008 and December 2014. The predictors and effect of cART on MTCT of HIV were analysed using a multivariable logistic regression model and risk analysis, respectively.

Results

Out of 877 HIV-exposed infants, 62 were positive for HIV, giving a prevalence of 7.1%. Maternal antiretroviral intervention and infant age group were statistically significant predictors of MTCT of HIV. HIV-positive mothers who were on cART were 2.49 times less likely to transmit HIV than those who were not on cART.

Conclusion

In order to reduce the prevalence of HIV among HIV-exposed infants, maternal antiretroviral intervention should be targeted and the use of cART by HIV-positive pregnant women should be encouraged.

Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV: Single Centre Experience of 14 years at Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi, India

INTRODUCTION

Prevention of Parent To Child Transmission (PPTCT) of HIV/AIDS is an integral component of AIDS control programme. PPTCT is an ongoing programme since last 15 years.

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the reduction in the burden of disease in newborn and infants by prevention of parents to child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a tertiary care hospital of Delhi from May 2002 to May 2015. The data was collected from records of maternal details registered at PPTCT clinic as well as list of infants undergoing Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) recorded in the standard format as per instructions from National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) of India. The Programme performance was assessed against performance indicators stated by NACO, India.

RESULTS

Evaluation was done by dividing study period into two halves of seven years each. Out of 2,52,447 new antenatal case registration, overall, 43% received pretest of which, 91% were tested. Antenatal seropositivity rate varied from 0.1%-0.25%. Of 243 seropositive antenatal women 187 partners tested positive. While 25 women opted for MTP, 15 had still births. There were 17 neonatal deaths at 3-12 months attributable to respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. Operative delivery rates declined from 50% to 31% over the years. Most women opted for breast feeding. The lost to follow up rate of newborns was quite high with details of only 43.5% being available at 18 months of infant's age. A total of three infants tested HIV positive at 18 months of age.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the practical aspects of policy implementation and operational issues involved in low resource country.

Mother-to-child HIV-transmission prevention programs in a sub-Saharan African setting: The Gabonese experience

In many developing countries, mothers' awareness remains a challenge despite the scaling up of antenatal care and programs preventing mother-to-child (MTC) HIV transmission. The present study was done in Libreville, Gabon where all antenatal care (delivery included) is free of charge. Here we assessed the timing of antenatal antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis initiation, HIV-exposed infants' age at their first postnatal HIV check visit and investigated the association between mothers' awareness or knowledge on their ARV therapy and infants' HIV infection. We interviewed HIV-positive mothers on their first and subsequent laboratory visits to investigate infants' HIV status and tested infants for HIV RNA and antibody between 2012 and 2014. We established that (1) of 718 HIV-positive mothers, only 6% were fully aware and knew what ARV treatment they were on during pregnancy; (2) half of the women (54%) start their antenatal ARV prophylaxis initiation during the second trimester of pregnancy; (3) 64% of HIV-exposed infants had their first HIV infection screening between birth and three months of age; (4) the overall prevalence of HIV infection in infants born from infected mothers was 8.9%; and (5) infants born from mothers uncertain about taking prophylactic ARV therapy were 13.3 times more likely to be infected by HIV than infants born from mothers certain about taking prophylactic ARV therapy. In conclusion, the study showed that despite free antenatal care, early access and adherence to components of MTC, HIV transmission preventive care remains unsatisfactory.