Modifiable factors within the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programme associated with failure to prevent HIV transmission in the Onandjokwe district of Namibia
Date
2017-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: Ending new paediatric HIV infections continues to be a global health priority. Cuba and other countries have demonstrated that elimination of mother to child transmission is possible through Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) interventions. As Namibia works on improving PMTCT there is a need to identify the local modifiable factors to achieve zero new HIV infections.
Aim: This study aimed to identify the modifiable factors within the PMTCT programme, which contributed to the acquisition of HIV infection among children in the Onandjokwe District.
Setting: Onandjokwe District, Northern Namibia.
Methods: A descriptive audit of the medical records of mothers and their children under two years, who acquired HIV despite the PMTCT programme.
Results: The study found that 80% of the paediatric HIV infections could be prevented by implementing the existing Namibian PMTCT recommendations. Overall 55% of modifiable factors were related to mothers, 35% to health workers and 10% to the health system. The top three modifiable factors related to health workers were poor HIV viral load monitoring, failure to act on a high HIV viral load and lack of initiative in tracing defaulters. Modifiable factors related to mothers were defaulting anti-retroviral therapy in themselves or their children. Health system related factors were a lack of a recall system to ensure infants came for their medication and HIV tests.
Conclusion: The majority of HIV infections among children under two years could be prevented within the PMTCT programme by addressing the identified modifiable factors in this study.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
Description
Thesis (MFamMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.
Keywords
AIDS (Disease) in infants -- Namibia -- Prevention, AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- Namibia -- Prevention, HIV infections -- Transmission -- Namibia, HIV infections -- Prevention -- Namibia, UCTD