Mother-to-child HIV transmission in resource poor settings: How to improve coverage?

Marleen Temmerman, Ann Quaghebeur, Fabian Mwanyumba, Kishor Mandaliya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

90 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: To review coverage of the current nevirapine prevention model in Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH) in Mombasa, Kenya, and to reflect on alternative models to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. Methods: At the antenatal clinic, health information is provided, followed by pre-test HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). Because many women deliver at home, HIV-infected women are provided with a tablet of 200 mg nevirapine for themselves, and with 0.6 ml (6 mg) nevirapine in a luer lock syringe for the baby. Data on coverage are provided from antenatal records and delivery registers. Results: Out of 3564 first-visit pregnant women receiving health education, 2516 were counselled (71%) and 2483 were tested (97%); 348 were HIV positive (14%), and 106 women took nevirapine in labour, resulting in an overall coverage rate of 20%. In the same period, approximately 6000 women gave birth in CPGH, of whom 21% had attended a facility with VCT services. Assuming an overall HIV prevalence of 14%, 840 mother-infant pairs could have received a preventative intervention with a hospital policy of antepartum as well as intrapartum testing and treatment in place. Conclusion: The coverage of perinatal MTCT was low as a result of a variety of programme elements requiring urgent improvement at different levels. Alternative models, including intrapartum testing, should be considered as a safety net for women without access to VCT before delivery, and recommendations for nevirapine should be considered in the light of home deliveries.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1239-1242
Number of pages4
JournalAIDS
Volume17
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 May 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Africa
  • HIV
  • Models/projections
  • Obstetrics/gynaecology
  • Perinatal transmission

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