Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Uptake and outcomes of a prevention-of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program in Zomba district, Malawi
BMC Public Health, Volume 11, Article 426, Year 2011
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background: HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Malawi is 12.6%, and mother-to-child transmission is a major route of transmission. As PMTCT services have expanded in Malawi in recent years, we sought to determine uptake of services, HIV-relevant infant feeding practices and mother-child health outcomes. Methods. A matched-cohort study of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected mothers and their infants at 18-20 months post-partum in Zomba District, Malawi. 360 HIV-infected and 360 HIV-uninfected mothers were identified through registers. 387 mother-child pairs were included in the study. Results: 10% of HIV-infected mothers were on HAART before delivery, 27% by 18-20 months post-partum. sd-NVP was taken by 75% of HIV-infected mothers not on HAART, and given to 66% of infants. 18% of HIV-infected mothers followed all current recommended PMTCT options. HIV-infected mothers breastfed fewer months than HIV-uninfected mothers (12 vs.18, respectively; p < 0.01). 19% of exposed versus 5% of unexposed children had died by 18-20 months; p < 0.01. 28% of exposed children had been tested for HIV prior to the study, 76% were tested as part of the study and 11% were found HIV-positive. HIV-free survival by 18-20 months was 66% (95%CI 58-74). There were 11(6%) maternal deaths among HIV-infected mothers only. Conclusion: This study shows low PMTCT program efficiency and effectiveness under routine program conditions in Malawi. HIV-free infant survival may have been influenced by key factors, including underuse of HAART, underuse of sd-NVP, and suboptimal infant feeding practices. Maternal mortality among HIV-infected women demands attention; improved maternal survival is a means to improve infant survival. © 2011 van Lettow et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
van Lettow, Monique
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Bedell, R.
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Landes, Megan
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Canada, Toronto
Saint Michael's Hospital University of Toronto
Gawa, Lucy
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Gatto, Stephanie
Canada, Burnaby
Simon Fraser University
Mayuni, Isabel
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Chan, Adrienne Kit
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Canada, Toronto
Saint Michael's Hospital University of Toronto
Tenthani, Lyson
Malawi, Lilongwe
Ministry of Health Malawai
Schouten, Erik J.
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 59
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-11-426
e-ISSN:
14712458
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Malawi
Participants Gender
Female