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Operational considerations for preventing the mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in the 2013 WHO consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection Perspectives from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation 3 December 2012
Contact person: Christian Pitter E-mail: cpitter@pedaids.org Introduction and purpose This document raises critical operational and feasibility considerations for countries considering changing their PMTCT ARV approach towards triple ARV therapy for all pregnant women living with HIV either during pregnancy and breastfeeding (option B) or lifelong (option B+). This paper is intended to be a rapid framing of some of the most important issues from a global HIV programme implementer’s perspective. By providing an implementation-based, country experience perspective, this paper may also inform the development of the 2013 WHO consolidated ARV guidelines. In this paper, we describe four operational consideration areas and their associated principles for country-level implementation: integration of HIV services into MCH settings, human resources, retention and adherence and longitudinal patient-level tracking systems. Each consideration area is supported by emerging evidence and implementation experience from low resource settings. The operational consideration areas are underpinned by the following mandates: − ensure improved outcomes for pregnant women living with HIV and HIV-exposed children at scale, with special emphasis on access and feasibility in those settings with greatest unmet need, such as rural, lower-volume and lower-level health facilities; ensure an appropriate balance between delivering state-of-the-art HIV prevention, care and treatment services and achieving greatest impact within constrained funding levels and health systems in low-resource settings; using a health systems strengthening approach to achieve optimal outcomes across all PMTCT programmes, including human resources, logistics, transport, referral and links, chronic care service models and laboratory and diagnostics, with the expectation of positive spillover effects on other disease management systems; and flexibility to localize approaches given the heterogeneity among countries and within countries in terms of disease burden, resources, infrastructure, local customs and the availability of expertise at each level of the health system.
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Although this document is broad in its scope, it is intended neither to be comprehensive nor to be the definitive opinion of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation on all issues relating to the 2013 guideline revision process. For example, this document does not address issues such as what specific antiretroviral medicines should be used, their dosages or when to start or stop prophylaxis or treatment. Furthermore, while the focus is on implementation, there are numerous operational aspects that are not Page 1 of 9
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explored in depth, for example, the particulars of ensuring a strong supply-chain, specific competencies required by health care providers and so forth. Finally, while there are numerous political and ethical considerations that will have to be sorted through at the global normative level, as well as at the national policy and practice level, this document does not attempt to address these in depth.
Methods and approach Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a leading global organization dedicated to preventing children from acquiring HIV infection and to eradicating AIDS among children. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation currently implements HIV prevention, care and treatment programmes in 15 countries around the world.† Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s global network of technical directors and country-based technical staff work in partnership with health ministries to support PMTCT and HIV care and treatment programme implementation. This support includes active participation in national PMTCT and HIV care and treatment technical working groups and provision of technical assistance on national policies and programmes related to PMTCT and HIV care and treatment. Following the release of the 2010 WHO PMTCT guidelines, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation systematically tracked the process for revising and implementing national guidelines in line with the 2010 WHO guidelines across 14 countries supported by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa.1 This paper draws upon Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s first-hand country experiences in adapting the 2010 PMTCT recommendations, our partnerships with ministries of health in country and our global HIV prevention, care and treatment programme implementation experience.2 The methods used to develop this paper included focus group discussions with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s global network of technical directors to gather inputs on key operations and feasibility considerations relevant to the potential move from option A to options B and B+ or from option B to B+. The findings from these discussions were triangulated with a systematic review of related abstracts and publications on programme implementation experience and emerging evidence since the revision of national guidelines in line with the 2010 WHO guidelines. Where possible, operational consideration assertions are supported by documentation generated by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, typically in the form of conference abstracts. The abstracts are reproduced in the Annex, linked to the reference numbers. Operational consideration: integration of HIV services into MCH settings Most Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation senior technical leaders consider integrating ART initiation and follow-up within MCH to be essential to the successful implementation of triple therapy for pregnant women in need of treatment (under WHO options A, B or B+) or for prophylaxis of MTCT (under options B or B+). Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has documented that integration of ART into MCH is feasible and increases ART uptake by pregnant women in Zimbabwe, Kenya, †
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation works in 13 African countries (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) as well as India and the United States. At the time of the 2010 guidelines, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation additionally worked in South Africa. Page 2 of 9
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Swaziland and Lesotho.3, 4, 5, 6 Experience in our Malawi programme indicates that ART initiation within MCH sites improves retention compared to referral to ART sites.7 Provision of point-of-care CD4 testing as an adjunct to integrated ART/MCH services also seemed to positively impact initiation of ART in MCH settings in Mozambique.8 There is evidence from Kenya that an integrated model led to better follow up of HIV-exposed infants9 and from Swaziland that infant uptake of ARVs also improved with integrating HIV service delivery into MCH.10 Integration of HIV services into MCH settings presents numerous challenges, however. In Malawi, it was noted that at higher levels of the health system, challenges exist with regard to intradepartmental planning, budgeting, and implementation, and at the service delivery level, challenges include: increased facility staff workload, data collection challenges, infrastructure and space constraints and supply-chain issues.11 Key principles − There is a strong conviction that integration of ART initiation and management through the breastfeeding period into antenatal care and postnatal care settings (as opposed to referral of pregnant women and their babies to a separate ART clinic) is critical to the success in implementing options B and B+. In rural or low-volume points of service, it may be necessary to gradually phase in provision of ART within MCH rather than making an abrupt transition. In circumstances where moving to option B+ is not immediately possible, consideration should be given to implementing option B as an interim measure. While initiation of ART can be managed in MCH settings, long-term chronic care and treatment of adults and children living with HIV is unlikely to be feasibly supported in many MCH facilities. It will be critical to make provisions for transition of mothers initiated on lifelong ART and their HIVexposed or HIV-infected children to more appropriate clinical care settings, as part of a strengthened health system response.
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Operational consideration: human resources Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has noted in Zimbabwe and Lesotho that building the capacity of health workers can be accomplished at a national scale and can result in significant gains in PMTCT programme performance. 12, 13 In Cameroon and Zimbabwe as well as in other country settings, providing training and supervision for nurses to support ART was shown to be feasible. 14, 15 By contrast, a lack of adequate training was seen to be a major barrier to effective implementation of the 2010 WHO PMTCT guidelines.16 Given experience on the ground, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation senior country technical staff feel strongly that it is possible for task shifting of ART initiation and maintenance to lower cadres of health staff to be accomplished, and this task shifting may be necessary to reach scale for PMTCT interventions, particularly for option B+. Ensuring appropriate supportive supervision can mitigate the risks associated with lower-cadre staff taking on additional responsibilities beyond their usual scope of work. Key principles − Clarity on the essential skill set(s) required for providing ART elements in an integrated MCH setting is needed, especially in settings with limited human resources and lack of access to higher-tier health
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services. This will permit a thoughtful, rational approach to the division of responsibilities and capacity building activities, particularly in the setting of task shifting. Strengthening of health system links and referral systems from community health workers to clinic staff and from clinic staff to clinical specialists will be essential for long-term success in the dramatic expansion of lifelong antiretroviral therapy contemplated under option B+.
Operational consideration: retention and adherence Loss to follow-up of pregnant women as well as mothers and babies in the postpartum period is a persistent concern across Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation country programmes. In the setting of lifelong antiretroviral therapy (option B+) or triple ARVs for PMTCT (option B) there are increased challenges and higher public health stakes with regard to adherence to medicines, particularly for pregnant women who do not immediately need antiretroviral therapy for their own health. There is a critical distinction between the lower level of preparedness necessary for a woman to undertake prophylaxis to protect her baby from HIV (for which there is often a high level of motivation) versus the higher level of preparedness needed to undertake lifelong ART within highly stigmatized environments, especially for the predominantly young, healthy-feeling women seen in ANC. Much as was the case in the scale-up of ART in adults over the past decade, the importance of pre-ART initiation counselling, including disclosure and disclosure support, and addressing stigma issues should not be underestimated if we are to mitigate the risk of refusal of triple therapy, or the risk of poor medium- and long-term adherence to ARVs. There is evidence from Swaziland that adherence and challenges may be met, at least in part, by providing adherence counselling, psychosocial support and community follow-up.17 Increased male involvement has been associated with significant increases in pregnant women being tested for HIV, women living with HIV being enrolled in HIV care and treatment and infants receiving ARV prophylaxis in the United Republic of Tanzania.18 Couples testing is also seen as an important part of the necessary package of services. Key principles − Evaluating and encouraging treatment readiness should be essential before initiating lifelong antiretroviral therapy, or triple ARVs for prophylaxis. The ideal counselling and readiness assessment in the context of PMTCT where ARV initiation is urgent needs to be further defined. A variety of interventions should be part of the package to support treatment uptake, adherence and retention in care, including intensive community engagement efforts, community-based support, interventions to support male involvement, psychosocial support and counselling, mHealth (mobile health) interventions and peer support. Clear standards must be set forth on what constitutes adequate adherence to ARVs, what modalities of follow-up are recommended as well as what to monitor and what actions must be taken to address adherence and retention issues that arise.
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Operational consideration: longitudinal patient-level tracking systems Longitudinal patient-level tracking is critical, regardless of what option is pursued, but takes on particular significance in the setting of option B+, where an approach that mirrors the strategies employed in antiretroviral therapy programmes needs to be employed. For example, some of the experience from Page 4 of 9
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implementation of electronic databases used for HIV care and treatment clinics can be adapted for PMTCT and particularly for options B and/or B+. Longitudinal systems provide a host of benefits for patient care, minimizing loss to follow-up, programme management and high-level reporting and measurement of programme impact. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda have examples of longitudinal follow-up of mothers and their babies using paper-based systems, allthough there is need for additional support and evaluation. Use of electronic medical record systems, such as in Zambia (SmartCare), can play significant roles in longitudinal tracking of pregnant mothers living with HIV and their HIV-exposed children in the continuum of care within PMTCT and ART. 19 There is emerging evidence from Zimbabwe that using electronic data capture modalities can facilitate the early identification of patients defaulting from prescribed ARV regimens.20 Evidence from South Africa indicates the usefulness of district health information system data to improve programme access and outcomes. 21, 22
Key principles − Longitudinal patient-level tracking systems are critical and can be accomplished with paper-based systems. However, strong consideration should be given to using computer-based systems to ensure earlier tracking of programme defaulters and improve adherence and retention.
Conclusion While the foregoing information and analyses are, by necessity, not a comprehensive and definitive exposition of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s perspectives on the expected changes toward triple ARV therapy for all pregnant women living with HIV either during pregnancy and breastfeeding and/or for life, we have sought to highlight some critical issues from our perspective as a large-scale implementer of PMTCT and HIV care and treatment programmes for adults and children in many countries. We believe that the issues raised – integration of HIV services into MCH settings, human resources, retention and adherence, and longitudinal patient-level tracking systems – must be thoughtfully considered at the global normative level, as well as by countries, districts and facilities if we are to accomplish the global goal of eliminating HIV among children.
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References Ghanotakis E. Country adaptation of the 2010 World Health Organization recommendations for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2012. BLT.12.102210 2 WHO toolkits phases 1–3. San Francisco, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, 2012 (http://’.pedaids.org/Publications/Toolkits). 3 Muchedzi A et al. Integration of ART in MCH settings: the way forward for increasing access to ART for eligible HIV-positive pregnant women in Zimbabwe. IAS Abstract; 2011. 4 Muthama DP et al. Increasing access and utilization of HIV care and treatment services in Nyanza Province, Kenya through integration, decentralization, and task shifting. IAS Abstract; 2012. 5 Wusumani S et al. Improving client flow in public health units in Swaziland: lessons learned from multidisciplinary teams. IAS Abstract; 2011. 6 Tiam A et al. Integrating PMTCT into maternal, neonatal, and child health services: from policy to implementation. IAS Abstract; 2012. 7 Personal communication with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Malawi Country Office. 8 De Schacht C et al. Point-of-care CD4 testing leads to increased uptake of antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women in Gaza Province, Mozambique. IAS Abstract; 2012. 9 Ong’ech JO et al. Provision of services and care for HIV-exposed infants: a comparison of maternal and child health clinic and HIV comprehensive care clinic models. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2012, 61:83–89. 10 Wusumani S et al. Improving client flow in public health units in Swaziland: lessons learned from multidisciplinary teams. IAS Abstract; 2011. 11 Yemaneberhan A et al. A situational analysis of the facilitators and barriers to integrating ART with MCH services in Malawi. IAS Abstract; 2011. 12 Mahomva AI et al. An innovative, rapid national scale-up of effective PMTCT services in a resource- limited setting to facilitate virtual elimination of new pediatric HIV infections by 2015: A Zimbabwe experience. IAS Abstract; 2012. 13 Tiam A et al. Integrating PMTCT into maternal, neonatal, and child health services: from policy to implementation. IAS Abstract; 2012. 14 Nshom E et al. A model of increasing rural access to HIV care in Cameroon. ICASA Abstract; 2011. 15 Muchedzi A et al. Integration of ART in MCH settings: the way forward for increasing access to ART for eligible HIV-positive pregnant women in Zimbabwe. IAS Abstract; 2011. 16 Makotore A et al. A training strategy to support rapid roll-out of the WHO 2010 PMTCT guidelines in Zimbabwe. IAS Abstract; 2012. 17 Tindyebwa D et al. Enhancing early infant diagnosis and treatment in Lesotho, Swaziland and Uganda: innovative approaches to address similar challenges. ICASA Abstract; 2011. 18 Mtambalike T et al. Improving the continuum of care by promoting male involvement in PMTCT in Nzega District, Tanzania. IAS Abstract; 2012. 19 Personal communication with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Strategic Information Team. 20 Personal communication with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Zimbabwe Country Office. 21 Tshabalala M et al. Utilising district health information system (DHIS) data to improve prevention of mother-tochild transmission (PMTCT) program access and outcomes in Metsweding district, Gauteng Province in South Africa. IAS Abstract; 2011. 22 Chima I, Lupondwana P. How soon should ART defaulters be traced? Characteristics and outcomes of defaulters attending an antiretroviral treatment clinic in Vryheid Hospital, South Africa. IAS Abstract; 2011. 1
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Authors, Abstract Muchedzi A, Nyamundaya T, Makunike-Chikwinya B, Mushavi A, Mugwagwa R. Integration of ART in MCH settings: the way forward for increasing access to ART for eligible HIV-positive pregnant women in Zimbabwe. IAS Abstract; 2011. To increase HIV-positive pregnant women’s access to and uptake of ART, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation supported the MOHCW to integrate ART in MCH clinics at 20 learning sites. Stakeholder meetings were held to advocate for integration of services, sensitize stakeholders and facility managers, and develop implementation plans. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for implementing ART in the MCH setting were developed, nurse-midwives were trained on OI/ART management, and resources were mobilized to provide point-of-care CD4 machines within MCH clinics. Fifty nurses were trained in adult OI/ART management; 22 were placed at health facilities to gain practical experience in ART initiation and OI/ART management. The percentage of ART-eligible women who received ART during pregnancy increased from 3% (June–Sept 2009) to 26% (June–Sept 2010). Integration of ART into MCH services improved access to and uptake of ART by treatment-eligible pregnant womeFn. This experience revealed that advocacy with stakeholders, clear SOPs, and access to CD4 testing are cornerstones for successful integration of ART into MCH. With proper training and mentorship, nurse-midwives are able to initiate ART for pregnant women and manage their care; nurse-led ART initiation should be scaled up to expand access to ART for eligible pregnant women nationwide. Muthama DP, Matu L, Okal C, Soti D, Otieno G et al. Increasing access and utilization of HIV care and treatment services in Nyanza Province, Kenya through integration, decentralization, and task shifting. IAS Abstract; 2012. Pamoja is a five-year project funded by CDC with several partnering organization implementing, that aims to increase access to high-quality HIV care and treatment services by building district capacity to direct, manage, and implement these services. The project supports adult and pediatric HIV care and treatment at 154 Ministry of Health healthcare sites in 12 districts of Nyanza Province, Kenya. HIV prevalence in Nyanza is 13%, almost twice the national average. Between October 2010 and September 2011, HIV services were integrated into 154 maternal and child health (MCH) sites and 115 TB sites that previously offered no HIV-related services. Clients initiated on ART increased by 179%, of which 31% were in sites that previously did not provide treatment. At baseline (October 2010), 55 sites were delivering and reporting (to the national information system) on HIV care; 35 of these were offering and reporting on ART. After one year of program implementation, these numbers increased to 147 and 108, respectively. Clients newly enrolled in HIV care increased by 187%. Increase was noted in all districts, new and old sites. 11.6% of the new clients were children. Clients initiated on ART increased by 179%, of which 31% were in sites that previously did not provide treatment. Wusumani S, Mahdi MA, Okello V, Chouraya C, Kudiabor K. Improving client flow in public health units in Swaziland: lessons learned from multidisciplinary teams. IAS Abstract; 2011. The majority of maternal and child health (MCH) services in Swaziland are provided in the Public Health Units (PHUs). ART was successfully integrated at five PHUs and uptake among eligible pregnant women increased. Integration of services has proven successful in improving quality of care provided to pregnant women. Challenges were identified and discussed with a focus on improving efficiency of services, client flow and time management. Each unit was then tasked to implement the improvement strategies with a plan to follow-up in subsequent meeting. The MDTs enabled the personnel to monitor and improve HIV service delivery. In one of the PHUs before MDT in 2009, HIV testing and counseling (HTC) was 99% (569/577), maternal ARV uptake was 81% (204/251), CD4 result uptake was 64% (119/187) and infant ARV uptake was 72% (147/203). Following the first year of implementation in 2010, HTC grew to 100% (631/631), maternal ARV uptake increased to 91% (323/356), CD4 result uptake rose to 76% (197/260) and infant ARV uptake grew to 88% (259/293). Tiam A, Mphale M, Tlebere P, Nyabela M, Oyebanji O et al. Integrating PMTCT into maternal, neonatal, and child health services: from policy to implementation. IAS Abstract; 2012. In 2008, the Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) began implementing a strategy to expand coverage of PMTCT services through integration of PMTCT into maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) facilities. Starting at the national level, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation began supporting the MOHSW in November 2008 to integrate PMTCT into MNCH through roll-out of an integrated training package, mentorship, supportive supervision and quality improvement programs. This was further strengthened in the recently released “strategic plan for elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and for pediatric HIV care and treatment”. At the district level, nurses have coordinated MNCH and PMTCT integration at MNCH facilities. At the facility level, MNCH and PMTCT services are offered in the same room, by the same nurses, and are coordinated by one manager. National PMTCT coverage increased from 35% in 2007 to 89% in 2011. De Schacht C, Lucas C, Sitoe N, Manuel I, Tobaiwa O et al. Point-of-care CD4 testing leads to increased uptake of antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women in Gaza Province, Mozambique. IAS Abstract; 2012. The prevalence of HIV among pregnant women in Gaza Province, Mozambique, is 21%. This was the first province in the country to implement routine point-of-care (POC) CD4 testing. Nine HF initiated POC CD4 testing in 2011. Routine
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data from eight Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation-supported health facilities were analyzed. ART initiation among pregnant women was compared prior to (2010) and after (2011) the introduction of POC CD4 testing. Significantly higher increase in ART initiation for pregnant women is seen in HF using CD4 POC technology. In the context of PMTCT, POC CD4 testing is important to increase ART uptake among eligible women, and contribute to the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV. Yemaneberhan A, Mazzeo C, Smith P, Gill M, Mbetu P. A situational analysis of the facilitators and barriers to integrating ART with MCH services in Malawi. IAS Abstract; 2011. Malawi’s decision to adopt “Option B-plus” – initiating HIV-positive pregnant and lactating women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) regardless of CD4 count and maintaining them on treatment for life – provided an opportunity to examine the Ministry of Health’s (MOH’s) proposed plan to integrate ART with maternal-child health (MCH) services. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation conducted a situational analysis of currently integrated Malawi PMTCT-MCH services in August 2010 to explore benefits and barriers to ART-MCH integration. PMTCT-MCH service integration has contributed to high counseling, testing and antiretroviral prophylaxis uptake in antenatal care (ANC) and maternity. National policies are supportive of ART-MCH integration; however, interdepartmental planning, budgeting and implementation are limited. Identified barriers to integration include: high workloads; data collection challenges; inadequate space to accommodate clients while ensuring privacy; and poor supply chain management. Despite space and staff shortages at many facilities, informants felt that providing ART in MCH would facilitate uptake and adherence while reducing stigma; a variety of potential models for successful ART-MCH integration were suggested by informants. Mahomva AI, Makunike-Chikwinya B, Nyamundaya T, Musarandega R, Zinyembal C et al. An innovative, rapid national scale-up of effective PMTCT services in a resource- limited setting to facilitate virtual elimination of new pediatric HIV infections by 2015: a Zimbabwe experience. IAS Abstract; 2012. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, with funding primarily from USAID and private donors, collaborated with the MOHCW in 2010 to design and rapidly scale up a national PMTCT program based on the 2010 WHO PMTCT guidelines. Several novel strategies were implemented including introduction of a District Focal Person cadre within the district health management structure; intensive health worker training and supportive supervision (Option A of the WHO 2010 PMTCT guidelines); roll-out of point-of-care (POC) CD4 testing and ART initiation in antenatal clinics (ANC) and targeted community engagement. Nationally, of the 1560 facilities providing PMTCT, 1344 (86%) were supported under this program. In these facilities over 2653 health workers were trained between April and December 2011 resulting in facilities providing services in line with the new guidelines increasing from 124 (9%) in 2010 to 1,334 (99%) in 2011; 10 (1%) facilities were mostly still providing sdNVP only for prophylaxis. The 1344 facilities enrolled 367,498 pregnant women between January and December 2011. Of these, 351,867 (96%) were tested for HIV and 43,758 (12%) were HIV-positive. Of these 15,753 (36%) were estimated to be eligible for ART. Approximately 36,760 (84%) HIV-positive women and 24,696 (56%) HIV-exposed infants identified were initiated on ARV prophylaxis. The number of HIV-positive pregnant women receiving ART in ANC of the estimated ART eligible increased from 2,498 (17%) in 2010 to 5,890 (37%) in 2011. Nshom E, Onyoh E, Tih P, Tayong G, Miller L et al. A model of increasing rural access to HIV care in Cameroon. ICASA Abstract; 2011. CBCHB piloted an approach to allow nurses to refill ART prescriptions at Nwat Primary Health Post (PHP) in March 2009. Nwat PHP is four hours away from the nearest treatment centre. Roundtrip transport costs are US$ 14–20 depending on the road conditions. As part of the pilot, a nurse from Nwat PHP received training on HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), support group formation/facilitation, HIV staging, and basic HIV clinical care. After returning to Nwat PHP, the nurse sensitized surrounding communities about the availability of free HIV VCT through discussions with village heads, churches, and social groups and began conducting VCT of community members. People identified as HIV-positive received counseling and were encouraged to attend monthly support group meetings for people living with HIV at Nwat PHP. Blood samples were collected for CD4 testing and transported by PHP nurse to the nearest HIV treatment center for analysis. Clients meeting the eligibility criteria for ART were initiated on treatment at the nearest treatment center by a physician. Clients enrolled on treatment returned to the PHP for monthly support group meetings, where they received adherence counseling, psychosocial support, on-going clinical assessment and medication refills. VCT was offered at the Nwat PHP and at 25 other community sites between March 2009 and December 2010 4,059 (90%) of clients counseled and 261 (6.4%) of clients were diagnosed as HIV-positive. Makotore A, Nyamundaya T, Chikwinya B, Muchedzi A, Chadambuka A et al. A training strategy to support rapid roll-out of the WHO 2010 PMTCT guidelines in Zimbabwe. IAS Abstract; 2012. A situation analysis of Zimbabwe’s PMTCT program conducted in 1 317 sites by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (May to July 2011) revealed that the revised national 2010 PMTCT guidelines had been implemented in 124 sites, while 851 sites were following the 2006 PMTCT guidelines; 246 sites were offering single-dose Nevirapine (SdNVP) only and 96 sites were not offering any ARV prophylaxis. Gaps in implementation were attributed to most health workers not being trained on the revised guidelines. The strategy adopted for training of health workers was very effective in achieving rapid national roll-out of the WHO 2010 Guidelines to even the lowest-level facilities. A total of 3,775 health workers were trained in IMAI/ IMPAC reflecting the 2010 guidelines, rapid testing, M&E and IYCF between April and September 2011. Rapid roll out of the 2010 PMTCT guidelines occurred following the training. By end of September 2011, sites implementing the 2010 PMTCT guidelines had increased from 124 to 1,113. Sites offering Page 8 of 9
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SdNVP only decreased from 246 to 62; sites following the 2006 guidelines decreased from 851 to 101. Tindyebwa D, Mukaminega M, Hairston A, Tiam A, Chouraya C, et al Enhancing Early Infant Diagnosis and Treatment in Lesotho, Swaziland and Uganda: Innovative Approaches to Address Similar Challenges. ICASA Abstract; 2011. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is supporting ministries of health (MOHs) in Lesotho, Swaziland and Uganda to implement innovative approaches to EID. In Lesotho, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has been supporting the electronic transmission of HIV test results from the central laboratory to clinical sites using mobile Web technology. In collaboration with other partners such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has supported the Lesotho MOH to establish a DNA-PCR hotline, enabling testing facilities to call laboratories to obtain test results on behalf of clients. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation-Lesotho has also trained over 50 nurses in presumptive diagnosis to ensure prompt care of HIV-exposed infants. In Swaziland, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has been training health-care workers on pediatric adherence counseling, psychosocial support, and community follow-up, to improve treatment retention among HIV-positive children. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation-Swaziland also promotes the integration of EID into routine child welfare services such as growth monitoring and immunization, coordinates quarterly feedback meetings for health-care workers, and uses mobile technology to notify caregivers about when to return to the clinics for their child’s test results. In Uganda, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation began scaling-up an EID care-point model, in which test samples are collected from various testing facilities and infants are referred to one central point to receive test results, care and treatment. These various approaches have contributed to more efficient delivery of EID or improved client enrolment and retention. Mtambalike T, Van De Ven R, Kilimba N, Mbita G, Makiya J et al. Improving the continuum of care by promoting male involvement in PMTCT in Nzega District, Tanzania. IAS Abstract; 2012. In Tanzania, uptake of PMTCT services has reached 96% of all women attending antenatal clinics (ANC), but enrolment of HIV-positive mothers into HIV care and treatment is only 42%. Male partner testing in PMTCT was 36.3% in the first quarter of 2011 in Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation-supported PMTCT sites in the country. Nzega District was chosen as a pilot site for supporting increased male involvement in PMTCT because of its high HIV prevalence of 6.8% (compared to 5.6% nationally). Three months after initiating the male involvement activities, testing in the 40 ANC facilities in Nzega rose from 10% in the first quarter of 2010 to 43% by the third quarter of 2011. During the same period, the proportion of HIV-exposed infants receiving ARV prophylaxis rose from 35% to 41% and testing of HIV-exposed infants increased from 28% to 39%. The proportion of HIV-positive women enrolled into care and treatment increased from 22% to 57%. Tshabalala M, Mapempeni C, Lupondwana P, & Kgobe S. Utilising District Health Information System (DHIS) data to improve prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program access and outcomes in Metsweding district, Gauteng Province in South Africa. IAS Abstract; 2011. Quality improvement (QI) strategies to improve PMTCT services were initiated in July 2009 by Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. These included process mapping to identify gaps, training of health-care workers on data management and QI methods, goal setting e.g. to reduce PCR positivity rate from 11-14% to <5% within one year, formation of QI teams, initiation of improvement cycles, implementation of two-way data flow processes where data is sent back to sites for verification every month, mentoring, coaching and QI learning sessions for all site staff. Between July 2009 and July 2010 improvements were noted in the PMTCT cascade: HIV counselling was offered to all pregnant women, HIV testing of pregnant women improved from 54% to 92%, all HIV-positive women received CD4 testing and results, ART prophylaxis improved from 14% to 96%, initiation of eligible pregnant women on ART improved from 27% to 66%, and the PCR positivity rate decreased from 11-14% to 5%. Chima I & Lupondwana P. How soon should ART defaulters be traced? - Characteristics and outcomes of defaulters attending an antiretroviral treatment clinic in Vryheid Hospital, South Africa. IAS Abstract; 2011. Tracing patients who miss clinic visits is important to prevent treatment interruption. Vryheid Hospital in KwaZuluNatal province uses paper-based systems developed with the assistance of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to monitor and track its 6864 patients currently on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Patients are traced through phone calls and home visits and the outcomes of follow-up are recorded in a register. The characteristics and outcomes of defaulters traced between July 2008 and December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively from the register. Patients were considered to have defaulted when they failed to show up for any clinic day. A total 343 defaulters were identified from the register: 265 (77.3%) were adult females; 52 (14.9%) adult males; 6 (1.7%) male children; 3 (0.9%) children and 18 (5.2%) adults with unspecified gender. Mean age of adult defaulters was 36.3 years (range 3-65 years). Average CD4 cell count of defaulters was 137.59 (range 0-677). Most common finding of defaulter tracing was death (38.2%) followed by wrong address (15.74%) and relocation (11.07%). 131 clients were found to have died, death occurring in < 10 days from last clinic visit in 23%, in < 15 days in 38%, and within 31 days in 62%. Mean duration of time between the last clinic visit and death was 51.62 days. Average duration of survival from start of treatment to time of death was 197days (range 0-1343 days).
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