Low mother-to-child HIV transmission rate but high loss-to-follow-up among mothers and babies in Mandalay, Myanmar; a cohort study
A retrospective cohort study reviewing routinely collected data in an Integrated HIV care programme
Abstract
Introduction
Loss-to-follow-up (LTFU) throughout the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) cascade remains one of the major threats to the success of PMTCT programs. In this study, the authors aimed to determine the mother-to-child transmission rate in a programmatic setting and to determine factors associated with LTFU among enrolled mothers and unfavorable outcomes among HIV-exposed babies which includes being HIV positive, death and LTFU.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study reviewing routinely collected data in an Integrated HIV care program, Mandalay, Myanmar in June 2016. LTFU means mother/infant missing appointed visit for more than 3 months.
Conclusion
Mother-to-child HIV transmission rate in this public hospital-based program was lower than the 5% national target, which indicates a successful PMTCT intervention. However, a high proportion of HIV-infected mothers and exposed babies LTFU was recorded. Lifelong ART provision to HIV-positive pregnant women was shown to reduce exposed babies’ LTFU, death and transmission rate (unfavorable outcomes) in this setting. Lessons learned from this program could be used to inform policy and practice in the country, while the programmatic challenge of LTFU should be urgently addressed.
This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)
Citation
Kyaw KWY, Oo MM, Kyaw NTT, Phyo KH, Aung TK, Mya T, Aung N, Oo HN, Isaakidis P. Low mother-to-child HIV transmission rate but high loss-to-follow-up among mothers and babies in Mandalay, Myanmar; a cohort study. PLoS One. 2017;12(9):e0184426.