The MONARCH intervention to enhance the quality of antenatal and postnatal primary health services in rural South Africa: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Gaps in maternal and child health services can slow progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Management and Optimization of Nutrition, Antenatal, Reproductive, Child Health & HIV Care (MONARCH) study will evaluate a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) intervention targeted at improving antenatal and postnatal health service outcomes in rural South Africa where HIV prevalence among pregnant women is extremely high. Specifically, it will establish the effectiveness of CQI on viral load (VL) testing in pregnant women who are HIV-positive and repeat HIV testing in pregnant women who are HIV-negative.

METHODS

This is a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 7 nurse-led primary healthcare clinics to establish the effect of CQI on selected routine antenatal and postnatal services. Each clinic was a cluster, with the exception of the two smallest clinics, which jointly formed one cluster. The intervention was applied at the cluster level, where staff received training on CQI methodology and additional mentoring as required. In the control exposure state, the clusters received the South African Department of Health standard of care. After a baseline data collection period of 2 months, the first cluster crossed over from control to intervention exposure state; subsequently, one additional cluster crossed over every 2 months. The six clusters were divided into 3 groups by patient volume (low, medium and high). We randomised the six clusters to the sequences of crossing over, such that both the first three and the last three sequences included one cluster with low, one with medium, and one with high patient volume. The primary outcome measures were (i) viral load testing among pregnant women who were HIV-positive, and (ii) repeat HIV testing among pregnant women who were HIV-negative. Consenting women ≥18 years attending antenatal and postnatal care during the data collection period completed outcome measures at delivery, and postpartum at three to 6 days, and 6 weeks. Data collection started on 15 July 2015. The total study duration, including pre- and post-exposure phases, was 19 months. Data will be analyzed by intention-to-treat based on first booked clinic of study participants.

DISCUSSION

The results of the MONARCH trial will establish the effectiveness of CQI in improving antenatal and postnatal clinic processes in primary care in sub-Saharan Africa. More generally, the results will contribute to our knowledge on quality improvement interventions in resource-poor settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered on 10 December 2015: www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02626351 .

A systematic review of interventions to improve postpartum retention of women in PMTCT and ART care

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization recommends lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV. Effective transitioning from maternal and child health to ART services, and long-term retention in ART care postpartum is crucial to the successful implementation of lifelong ART for pregnant women. This systematic review aims to determine which interventions improve (1) retention within prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programmes after birth, (2) transitioning from PMTCT to general ART programmes in the postpartum period, and (3) retention of postpartum women in general ART programmes.

METHODS

We searched Medline, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, the regional World Health Organization databases and conference abstracts for data published between 2002 and 2015. The quality of all included studies was assessed using the GRADE criteria.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

After screening 8324 records, we identified ten studies for inclusion in this review, all of which were from sub-Saharan Africa except for one from the United Kingdom. Two randomized trials found that phone calls and/or text messages improved early (six to ten weeks) postpartum retention in PMTCT. One cluster-randomized trial and three cohort studies found an inconsistent impact of different levels of integration between antenatal care/PMTCT and ART care on postpartum retention. The inconsistent results of the four identified studies on care integration are likely due to low study quality, and heterogeneity in intervention design and outcome measures. Several randomized trials on postpartum retention in HIV care are currently under way.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the evidence base for interventions to improve postpartum retention in HIV care is weak. Nevertheless, there is some evidence that phone-based interventions can improve retention in PMTCT in the first one to three months postpartum.

Pneumonitis post-haematopoeitic stem cell transplant - cytopathology clinches diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Primary BK virus (BKV) infection is probably acquired by the respiratory route in childhood, and latent virus persists principally in the urinary tract. BKV reactivation is implicated in late onset haemorrhagic cystitis (HC) post Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT). There is emerging evidence that BKV can cause life-threatening pneumonitis in immunocompromised individuals.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the first known case of BKV pneumonitis in an adult HSCT recipient.

STUDY DESIGN/RESULTS

A 19-year old male underwent an ABO-incompatible, volunteer unrelated donor allogeneic HSCT for high risk AML. The post-transplant period was complicated by moderate-severe cutaneous and gut acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and severe HC, attributable to BKV. Treatment encompassed intensification of immunosupression for aGVHD and weekly intravenous (IV) cidofovir (2.5mg/Kg) for BK viruria. He was readmitted with presumed septic shock and acute renal failure. After a transient improvement on broad spectrum antibacterials, he suffered significant respiratory deterioration. CT imaging revealed diffuse 'ground-glass' attenuation. Cytopathological assessment of a broncho-alveolar sample (BAL) was consistent with polyomavirus pneumonitis. No other cause was found to account for the respiratory deterioration. He did not respond to therapy and died of multi-organ failure.

CONCLUSIONS

BKV is implicated in haemorrhagic cystitis in HSCT recipients but not routinely considered as a cause of pneumonitis. There are just 5 other cases in the literature, including 3 patients with AIDS. BKV should be considered as a possible cause of pneumonitis in HSCT recipients.