title: Follow-up of infants diagnosed with HIV - Early Infant Diagnosis Program, Francistown, Botswana, 2005-2012.
abstract: The 2011 prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among pregnant women in Botswana was 30.4%. High coverage rates of HIV testing and antiretroviral prophylaxis have reduced the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Botswana from as high as 40% with no prophylaxis to <4% in 2011. In June 2005, the national Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) Program began testing HIV-exposed infants (i.e., those born to HIV-infected mothers) for HIV using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 6 weeks postpartum. During 2005-2012, follow-up of all HIV-infected infants diagnosed in all 13 postnatal care facilities in Francistown, Botswana, was conducted to ascertain patient outcomes. A total of 202 infants were diagnosed with HIV. As of September 2013, 82 (41%) children were alive and on antiretroviral therapy (ART), 79 (39%) had died, and 41 (20%) were either lost to follow-up, had transferred, or their mothers declined ART. Despite success in preventing mother-to-child transmission in Botswana, results of the EID program highlight the need for early diagnosis of HIV-infected infants, prompt initiation of ART, and retention in care.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motswere-Chirwa
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voetsch
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Letsholathebe
authors.forename: Phenyo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lekone
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Machakaire
authors.forename: Keitumetse
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Legwaila
authors.forename: Stembile
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matambo
authors.forename: Maruping
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruping
authors.forename: Thatayotlhe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kolobe
authors.forename: Chipo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petlo
authors.forename: Refeletswe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lebelonyane
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glenshaw
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Margarett
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Shenaaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Halabi
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelletier
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001902:Botswana; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents