ELIMINATION OF MTCT OF HIV IN INDIA BY 2030: CURRENT STATUS AND THE WAY AHEAD

Abstract

Background:Considering the global public health priority of eliminating Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, World Health Organization (WHO) started the initiative of Global Plan Towards Eliminating New HIV Infections Among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive. Owing to those efforts, the number of children aged between 0-14 years acquiring HIV has decreased since 2011, but not rapidly enough. India is one among the 23 focus countries and while Cuba, Maldives, Thailand and recently Sri Lanka have successfully eliminated MTCT of HIV, India is lagging behind in this ambitious goal despite sustained efforts. Methods: A systematic review of recent literature on MTCT of HIV, current global and Indian status regarding MTCT and the successful approach and methods of countries which were certified by WHO as to have eliminated MTCT of HIV was performed and analysed. Results: As MTCT of HIV has three distinct points – during pregnancy, during delivery and during breastfeeding, the approaches to prevent MTCT also focus on these points chiefly. However, educating the adolescent girl and women of child bearing age would serve as the primordial prevention which also enormously reduces the burden among the three points mentioned above. Awareness also pave a way for volunteering in testing for HIV before planning for pregnancy and regularly checking if the mother found to be HIV positive, keeping the viral load under the desired level in addition to adherence to ART wherever necessary. Discussion: Focusing in all areas where there is possibility of MTCT, Promoting antiretroviral therapy adherence to mothers and children, Involving community level workers, Improved case detection and Strengthening of health system are the measures to be followed in order to achieve elimination of MTCT of HIV in India Conclusion: In the developing countries like India early diagnosis, awareness and the community participation and in collaboration with NGOs can help to achieve the target of elimination of MTCT of HIV.