Evaluating progress towards triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in the Netherlands

Colette Smit,Birgit H B Van Benthem,Frithjofna Abbink,Eline L M Op De Coul,Catharina P B Van Der Ploeg,Chantal W P M Hukkelhoven,Maartje Visser

doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6668-6

Abstract

BackgroundIn 2014 the World Health Organisation (WHO) established validation criteria for elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis. Additionally, the WHO set targets to eliminate hepatitis, including hepatitis B (HBV). We evaluated to what extent the Netherlands has achieved the combined WHO criteria for EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and HBV.MethodsData of HIV, syphilis and HBV infections among pregnant women and children (born in the Netherlands with congenital infection) for 2009–2015, and data required to validate the WHO criteria were collected from multiple sources: the antenatal screening registry, the HIV monitoring foundation database, the Perinatal Registry of the Netherlands, the national reference laboratory for congenital syphilis, and national HBV notification data.ResultsScreening coverage among pregnant women was > 99% for all years, and prevalence of HIV, syphilis and HBV was very low. In 2015, prevalence of HIV, syphilis and HBV was 0.06, 0.06 and 0.29%, respectively. No infections among children born in the Netherlands were reported in 2015 for all three diseases, and in previous years only sporadic cases were observed In 2015, treatment of HIV positive pregnant women was 100% and HBV vaccination of children from HBV positive mothers was > 99%. For syphilis, comprehensive data was lacking to validate WHO criteria.ConclusionsIn the Netherlands, prevalence of maternal HIV, syphilis and HBV is low and congenital infections are extremely rare. All minimum WHO criteria for validation of EMTCT are met for HIV and HBV, but for syphilis more data are needed to prove elimination.

Highlights

In 2014 the World Health Organisation (WHO) established validation criteria for elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and syphilis
The WHO criteria of antenatal care coverage, HIV testing and syphilis testing for ≥95% of pregnant women were all met (Table 1)
The Netherlands meets all of the minimum WHO criteria for EMTCT of HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Summary

Introduction

In 2014 the World Health Organisation (WHO) established validation criteria for elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis. In 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) established a list of validation criteria to facilitate efforts of elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, which were updated in 2017 [3]. The WHO has not yet established elaborate guidance on EMTCT of HBV, but it is addressed in the WHO Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis 2016–2021 [4] It states that prevention of MTCT is a core intervention area in ending the hepatitis epidemic, mainly through timely HBV birth-dose vaccination, antenatal testing, and the use of antiviral drugs. In this global strategy, the WHO set targets to reach EMTCT of HBV in 2030.

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