Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategy
Background: Birth HIV point-of-care (POC) tests curtail analytical testing issues and expedite diagnosis, potentially allowing for earlier mother-infant pair engagement and improved outcomes. Many children are lost post antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation within the first 6 months of follow-up....
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajid.co.za/index.php/sajid/article/view/589 |
| _version_ | 1797223099121270784 |
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| author | Michael J. Christie Nicolette M. du Plessis |
| author_facet | Michael J. Christie Nicolette M. du Plessis |
| author_sort | Michael J. Christie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Birth HIV point-of-care (POC) tests curtail analytical testing issues and expedite diagnosis, potentially allowing for earlier mother-infant pair engagement and improved outcomes. Many children are lost post antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation within the first 6 months of follow-up.
Objectives: We compared 6-month retention in care, HIV viral load (VL) suppression and mortality among infants diagnosed with HIV at birth, using laboratory-based versus POC HIV PCR testing.
Method: From 2018 to 2019, infants exposed to HIV underwent birth HIV PCR POC testing at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Tshwane District. Their outcomes were compared to a historical control born between 2014 and 2016, who exclusively underwent laboratory-based HIV PCR testing. Both groups received comparable HIV care following national guidelines.
Results: Fifty-seven infants were studied (POC: 27; Control: 30). The POC turnaround time was significantly shorter (POC: 15.5 h [IQR: 4.3–24.7], Control: 68.3 h [IQR 46.0–93.9]; p = 0.0001). Both populations had the same elapsed time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation (median: 13 days, POC: IQR 8–21 days; Control: IQR 9–36 days). Six infants were never initiated (POC: 2 [7%]; Control: 4 [13%]). At 6 months, overall care retention was 72% (41/57), higher among the Control group (Control 23/30, 77%; POC: 18/27, 67%). HIV viral suppression at 6 months was higher among the POC group (POC: 14/18, 78%; Control: 9/19, 47%, p = 0.09). No deaths were reported.
Conclusion: Poor care retention at 6 months post ART initiation is concerning. Initial mother-infant visits should be effectively utilised to assess and manage potential risk factors for loss of follow-up.
Contribution: This study highlights the ongoing need to find workable solutions to improve retention in care, thereby ensuring the benefits of expedited HIV diagnosis and ART initiation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:31:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e85921059e948d2bb961915fed15c19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2312-0053 2313-1810 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:31:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e85921059e948d2bb961915fed15c192024-04-04T09:29:23ZengAOSISSouthern African Journal of Infectious Diseases2312-00532313-18102024-03-01391e1e710.4102/sajid.v39i1.589298Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategyMichael J. Christie0Nicolette M. du Plessis1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PretoriaBackground: Birth HIV point-of-care (POC) tests curtail analytical testing issues and expedite diagnosis, potentially allowing for earlier mother-infant pair engagement and improved outcomes. Many children are lost post antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation within the first 6 months of follow-up. Objectives: We compared 6-month retention in care, HIV viral load (VL) suppression and mortality among infants diagnosed with HIV at birth, using laboratory-based versus POC HIV PCR testing. Method: From 2018 to 2019, infants exposed to HIV underwent birth HIV PCR POC testing at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Tshwane District. Their outcomes were compared to a historical control born between 2014 and 2016, who exclusively underwent laboratory-based HIV PCR testing. Both groups received comparable HIV care following national guidelines. Results: Fifty-seven infants were studied (POC: 27; Control: 30). The POC turnaround time was significantly shorter (POC: 15.5 h [IQR: 4.3–24.7], Control: 68.3 h [IQR 46.0–93.9]; p = 0.0001). Both populations had the same elapsed time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation (median: 13 days, POC: IQR 8–21 days; Control: IQR 9–36 days). Six infants were never initiated (POC: 2 [7%]; Control: 4 [13%]). At 6 months, overall care retention was 72% (41/57), higher among the Control group (Control 23/30, 77%; POC: 18/27, 67%). HIV viral suppression at 6 months was higher among the POC group (POC: 14/18, 78%; Control: 9/19, 47%, p = 0.09). No deaths were reported. Conclusion: Poor care retention at 6 months post ART initiation is concerning. Initial mother-infant visits should be effectively utilised to assess and manage potential risk factors for loss of follow-up. Contribution: This study highlights the ongoing need to find workable solutions to improve retention in care, thereby ensuring the benefits of expedited HIV diagnosis and ART initiation.https://sajid.co.za/index.php/sajid/article/view/589hivinfantpoint-of-careloss to follow-updiagnostics |
| spellingShingle | Michael J. Christie Nicolette M. du Plessis Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategy Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases hiv infant point-of-care loss to follow-up diagnostics |
| title | Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategy |
| title_full | Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategy |
| title_fullStr | Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategy |
| title_short | Retention in care of infants diagnosed with HIV at birth: Beyond the diagnostic strategy |
| title_sort | retention in care of infants diagnosed with hiv at birth beyond the diagnostic strategy |
| topic | hiv infant point-of-care loss to follow-up diagnostics |
| url | https://sajid.co.za/index.php/sajid/article/view/589 |
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