Abstract
The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme in the central region of Ethekweni Metro, KwaZulu-Natal (Durban central area), was investigated. Data for all HIV-exposed infants from eight private paediatric practices seen between January 2004 and June 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred and one black African infants were born to 100 HIV-positive women of average age 30 years. Median viral loads and CD4 counts were 11 391 copies/ml and 426 cells/μl, respectively. Eighty-six women received HAART and 5 had no prophylaxis. Of the 92 infants tested, 2 were HIV positive, giving a transmission rate of 2.2%. Both their mothers had received suboptimal prophylaxis, and if they are excluded, the transmission rate falls to less than 1%, a rate consistent with those in the developed world.
Highlights
The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme in the central region of Ethekweni Metro, KwaZulu-Natal (Durban central area), was investigated
Effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) strategies are known to reduce the incidence of paediatric HIV infection.[1]
The authors of that paper reported results of two studies in the public sector, in 2002 and 2006, respectively, where transmission rates of 8.7% and 20.8% were achieved with a PMTCT drug regimen comprising single-dose nevirapine.[2]
Summary
Ethical approval for this retrospective chart review was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (Reference number BEO47/47). Of the 20 paediatricians in the Durban Central region, 4 (20%) did not respond. All charts of HIV-exposed infants born between January 2004 and June 2005, from the 8 paediatricians who agreed to participate, were included. Data were collected by means of previously piloted questionnaires
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