title: HIV testing and retention in care of infants born to HIV- infected women enrolled in 'Option B+', Thyolo, Malawi.
abstract: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission 'Option B+' originated in Malawi in 2011 to prevent new infections in infants exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We assessed 12-month programme retention and HIV testing uptake among infants born to HIV-infected mothers from September 2011 to June 2012 in Thyolo District Hospital. Of 513 infants, 368 (71.7%) remained in care at 12 months. Altogether, 412 (80.3%) underwent HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction testing, with 267 (52.0%) tested at 6-12 weeks, and 255 (49.7%) underwent rapid HIV testing, with 144 (28.1%) tested at 12 months. Eighty-eight (17.2%) infants had both tests as scheduled. Measures are needed to improve adherence to national testing protocols.
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martínez Pérez
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metcalf
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garone
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coulborn
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France ; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hedt-Gauthier
authors.affiliation: Thyolo District of Health, Thyolo, Malawi.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murowa
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Mwenelupembe
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van den Bergh
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Triviño Durán
keywords: HIV guidelines; HIV testing; PMTCT; children's health; operational research