A cluster-randomized trial of enhanced labor ward-based PMTCT services to increase nevirapine coverage in Lusaka, Zambia.
OBJECTIVE
Determine whether enhanced labor ward-based services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) would improve nevirapine (NVP) coverage.


METHODS
Cluster-randomized trial at 12 public-sector delivery centers in Lusaka, Zambia.


METHODS
Following a baseline surveillance period, 12 labor wards were randomized, six to offer opt-in HIV testing to women of unknown serostatus (with NVP administration as indicated) and to assess NVP adherence among known HIV-infected women. The six control labor wards provided the standard of care. The NVP coverage endpoint was defined as the proportion of HIV-infected/exposed women/infant pairs with confirmed NVP ingestion. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to determine the odds of coverage associated with the intervention and ultimately used the parameters for the estimated GEE model to estimate relative risk.


RESULTS
Between October 2005 and January 2006, 7664 women gave birth at participating clinics. We collected anonymous-linked blood from 7592 (99%) umbilical cords; tested 7438 (97%) for HIV, 1618 (22%) were seropositive, and of these, 1279 (79%) were tested for NVP. At baseline (preintervention), the probability of HIV-infected/exposed women/infant pairs receiving NVP in treatment clinics (42%) was 0.89 times the probability of being covered in control clinics (53%) whereas during the intervention period the probability of treatment clinic coverage (52%) was 1.22 the probability control clinic coverage (43%), representing a multiplicative effect of 1.37 upon the RR at baseline (ratio of relative risks 1.37, bootstrapped 95% CI, 1.04-1.77).


CONCLUSIONS
Labor ward-based PMTCT programs are feasible and can have a significant, positive impact on NVP coverage.
Megazzini
Karen M
KM
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. KMegazzini@gmail.com
Sinkala
Moses
M
Vermund
Sten H
SH
Redden
David T
DT
Krebs
Daniel W
DW
Acosta
Edward P
EP
Mwanza
Joyce
J
Goldenberg
Robert L
RL
Chintu
Namwinga
N
Bulterys
Marc
M
Stringer
Jeffrey Sa
JS
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019829:Nevirapine