Implementation of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in South Africa: outcomes from a population-based birth cohort study in Paarl, Western Cape.
Jennifer PellowskiCatherine WedderburnJacob A M StadlerWhitney C BarnettDan SteinLandon MyerHeather J ZarPublished in: BMJ open (2019)
Despite the low transmission rate in this cohort, reaching elimination will require further work, and this study illustrates several areas to improve implementation of PMTCT services and reduce paediatric infections including retesting at-risk HIV-negative mothers through the duration of breast feeding, infant HIV testing at any admission in addition to routine testing and improved counselling to prevent defaulting from treatment. Better data surveillance systems are essential for determining the implementation of PMTCT guidelines.
Keyphrases
- hiv testing
- south africa
- men who have sex with men
- primary care
- hiv positive
- healthcare
- quality improvement
- emergency department
- clinical practice
- mental health
- public health
- human immunodeficiency virus
- electronic health record
- hepatitis c virus
- antiretroviral therapy
- gestational age
- machine learning
- smoking cessation
- artificial intelligence