Prevention of mother to child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus: the nigerian perspective

Human immunodeficiency virus-positive women's perspectives on breastfeeding with antiretrovirals: A qualitative evidence synthesis

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women can breastfeed with minimal risk of mother-to-child transmission if taking antiretrovirals. Guidelines surrounding infant feeding for HIV-positive women have evolved several times over the last two decades. Our review aimed to explore perspectives of breastfeeding with antiretrovirals from HIV-positive women since the World Health Organization (2010) infant feeding and antiretroviral guidelines. HIV-positive pregnant and postnatal women from all countries/settings were eligible. HIV-positive women were either on an antiretroviral regimen at the time of the study, previously on an antiretroviral regimen, not initiated on a regimen yet, or enrolled in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) care. Quality assessment of all included studies were conducted. Four databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO) were searched for studies conducted from January 2010 to October 2020. Nine papers were included in the review, of which two presented findings from the same study. Five analytical themes were developed via thematic synthesis: (1) awareness of breastfeeding with antiretrovirals, (2) turmoil of emotions, (3) coping mechanisms, (4) the intertwining of secret, stigma and support and (5) support needed. Support from family and health care professionals and coping approaches were important to overcome stigma and the emotional challenges of breastfeeding with antiretrovirals. Health care professionals should be familiar with the most updated national and local guidance surrounding infant feeding and antiretrovirals. Further research into interventions to encourage HIV-positive women to adhere and commit to lifelong antiretroviral treatment (Option B+) for breastfeeding is required.

Central role of the placenta during viral infection: Immuno-competences and miRNA defensive responses

Pregnancy is a unique immunological condition in which an "immune-diplomatic" dialogue between trophoblasts and maternal immune cells is established to protect the fetus from rejection, to create a privileged environment in the uterus and to simultaneously be alert to any infectious challenge. The maternal-placental-fetal interface (MPFI) performs an essential role in this immunological defense. In this review, we will address the MPFI as an active immuno-mechanical barrier that protects against viral infections. We will describe the main viral infections affecting the placenta and trophoblasts and present their structure, mechanisms of immunocompetence and defensive responses to viral infections in pregnancy. In particular, we will analyze infection routes in the placenta and trophoblasts and the maternal-fetal outcomes in both. Finally, we will focus on the cellular targets of the antiviral microRNAs from the C19MC cluster, and their effects at both the intra- and extracellular level.

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.

Integrating PMTCT Into Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and Related Services: Experiences From the Global Plan Priority Countries

The urgency to scale-up sustainable programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) prompted priority countries of the Global Plan Toward the Elimination of New HIV Infections Among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive (Global Plan) to expand the delivery of PMTCT services through greater integration with sexual and reproductive health and child health services. Countries approached integration-what, where, and how services are provided-in diverse ways, with predominantly favorable results. Approaches to integrated services have increased access to a broader range of PMTCT interventions, and they also have proved to be largely acceptable to clients and providers. The integration of PMTCT interventions with maternal, newborn, and child health settings was supported by strategies to reconfigure service delivery to provide additional services, including shifting tasks to nurses (such as initiating antiretroviral therapy and providing long-term follow-up). This was complemented by supporting community outreach and integrating HIV and sexual and reproductive health services bidirectionally, including by providing family planning through antiretroviral therapy clinics and HIV testing in family planning clinics. A systematic and rigorous study of country experiences integrating HIV and maternal, newborn, and child health services, including maternal and pediatric TB services, cost analysis, could provide valuable lessons and demonstrate how such integration can improve systems for health care delivery.

HIV counselling and testing practices for children seen in an urban emergency department of a tertiary referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a retrospective cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To describe the HIV counselling and testing practices for children presenting to an emergency department (ED) in a low-income country.

SETTING

The ED of a large east African national referral hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective review of all paediatric (<18 years old) ED visits in 2012 enrolled patients who had an HIV test ordered and excluded those without testing. Files were available for 5540/5774 (96%) eligible patients and 1632 (30%) were tested for HIV, median age 1.3 years (IQR 9 months to 4 years), 58% <18 months old and 61% male.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was documentation of pretest and post-test counselling, or deferral of counselling, for children tested for HIV in the ED. Secondary measures included the overall rate of HIV testing, rate of counselling documented in the inpatient record when deferred in the ED, rate of counselling documented when testing was initiated by the inpatient service, rate of counselling documented by test result (positive vs negative) and the rate of referral to follow-up HIV care among patients testing positive.

RESULTS

Of 418 patients tested in the ED, counselling, or deferral of counselling, was documented for 70 (17%). When deferred to the ward, subsequent counselling was documented for 15/42 (36%). Counselling was documented in 33% of patients testing positive versus 1.1% patients testing negative (OR 43 (95% CI 23 to 83). Of 199 patients who tested positive and survived to hospital discharge, 76 (38%) were referred for follow-up at the HIV clinic on discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians documented the provision, or deferral, of counselling for <20% of children tested for HIV in the ED. Counselling was much more likely to be documented when the test result was positive. Less than 40% of those testing positive were referred for follow-up care.

Dual indices for prioritizing investment in decentralized HIV services at Nigerian primary health care facilities

Decentralizing health services, including those for HIV prevention and treatment, is one strategy for maximizing the use of limited resources and expanding treatment options; yet few methods exist for systematically identifying where investments for service expansion might be most effective, in terms of meeting needs and rapid availability of improved services. The Nigerian Government, the United States Government under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program and other donors are expanding services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV to primary health care facilities in Nigeria. Nigerian primary care facilities vary greatly in their readiness to deliver HIV/AIDS services. In 2012, MEASURE Evaluation assessed 268 PEPFAR-supported primary health care facilities in Nigeria and developed a systematic method for prioritizing these facilities for expansion of PMTCT services. Each assessed facility was scored based on two indices with multiple, weighted variables: one measured facility readiness to provide PMTCT services, the other measured local need for the services and feasibility of expansion. These two scores were compiled and the summary score used as the basis for prioritizing facilities for PMTCT service expansion. The rationale was that using need and readiness to identify where to expand PMTCT services would result in more efficient allocation of resources. A review of the results showed that the indices achieved the desired effect—that is prioritizing facilities with high need even when readiness was problematic and also prioritizing facilities where rapid scale-up was feasible. This article describes the development of the two-part index and discusses advantages of using this approach when planning service expansion. The authors' objective is to contribute to development of methodologies for prioritizing investments in HIV, as well as other public health arenas, that should improve cost-effectiveness and strengthen services and systems in resource-limited countries.

Socio-cultural factors influencing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria: a synthesis of the literature

Background

Currently, Nigeria alone accounts for 30% of the burden of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This review explores the socio-cultural factors influencing prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) service uptake in Nigeria.

Methods

Using the PEN-3 cultural model as a guide, we searched electronic databases and conducted a synthesis of empirical studies conducted from 2001 to 2013 that reported the perceptions people have towards PMTCT, the enablers/resources that influence PMTCT service uptake, and the role of nurturers/family or community in shaping actions and decisions towards PMTCT service uptake.

Results

A total of 42 articles meeting the search criteria were retained in this review. Thirty-six (36) were quantitative cross-sectional surveys; three were mixed methods, while three were qualitative studies. The findings highlight that there are perceptions, ranging from positive to negative that influence PMTCT service uptake in Nigeria. Furthermore, lack of available, accessible, acceptable, and affordable resources negatively influence decisions and actions towards PMTCT. Finally, family contexts matter with decisions and actions towards PMTCT service uptake in Nigeria particularly with disclosure and non-disclosure of sero-positive status, fertility intentions and infant feeding choices.

Conclusion

As ambitious goals are established and unprecedented resources deployed towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV globally by 2015, there is clearly a need to develop effective family-oriented, culture-centered community-based PMTCT programs in Nigeria so as to improve the low uptake of PMTCT services.

Hydatidiform mole: A Review of Management Outcomes in a Tertiary Hospital in South-East Nigeria

Background:

Hydatidiform mole (molar pregnancy) is the pre-malignant form of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. It is of clinical and epidemiological interest because of its significant complication in pregnancy.

Aim:

This study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, clinical presentations, diagnosis, treatment options, and outcomes of molar pregnancy in a Nigerian tertiary health institution.

Materials and Methods:

A 10-year retrospective study of patients with molar pregnancy managed at the hospital from 1^st July 2001 to 30^th June 2010 was undertaken.

Results:

There were 34 cases of molar pregnancy, out of a total delivery of 7,579, giving an incidence of 0.4% or 1 in 223 deliveries. The mean age of the patients was 31.3 (8.7) years, and 29.0% (9/31) of the patients were nulliparous. The mean gestational age of the patients at presentation was 14.7 (3.5) weeks. The most common presenting symptom was abnormal vaginal bleeding, 93.5% (29/31), while anemia was the commonest complication seen in 96.8% (30/31) of patients. Almost all the patients (93.5%) had suction evacuation while 6.5% (2/31) had hysterectomy. As many as 6.5% (2/31) of patients had post-evacuation chemotherapy while 87.1% (27/31) patients had follow-up contraception. As many as 64.5% (20/31) of patients had complete follow-up for less than 6 months. The case fatality rate was 9.7%.

Conclusion:

Molar pregnancy has remained an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in our hospital, and the incidence was high. There is need for early recognition, timely referral, prompt and proper treatment of this condition. Adequate follow-up of the patients should be reinforced.