Progress of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV at primary healthcare facilities and district hospitals in three South African provinces.
Improving national prevention of mother-to-child (PMTCT) services in South Africa has been challenging. PMTCT outcomes were analysed at 58 primary and secondary level antenatal facilities across seven high HIV-burden sub-districts in three provinces, over an 18 month period during which new South African PMTCT clinical guidelines were implemented and a nurse quality mentor program was expanded. Early infant HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction test positivity reduced by 75.2% from 9.7% (CI: 8.1%-11.5%) to 2.4% (CI: 1.9%-3.1%); p<0.0005. HIV test positivity at 18 months of age decreased by 64.5% from 10.7% (CI: 7.2-15.1%) to 3.8% (CI: 2.4-5.6%); p<0.0005. PMTCT outcomes have improved substantially at these facilities.
Ashraf
A
Grimwood
Geoffrey
G
Fatti
Eula
E
Mothibi
Brian
B
Eley
Debra
D
Jackson
D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D013019:South Africa; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration