Early infant diagnosis of HIV in Myanmar: call for innovative interventions to improve uptake and reduce turnaround time
Retrospective cohort study involving record review
Abstract
Background
In collaboration with the national AIDS program, early infant diagnosis (EID) is implemented by Integrated HIV Care (IHC) program through its anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centers across 10 cities in five states and regions of Myanmar. Blood samples from the ART centers are sent using public transport to a centralized PCR facility.
Objectives
Among HIV-exposed babies <9 months at enrolment into IHC program (2013-15), to describe the EID cascade (enrolment, sample collection for PCR, result receipt by mother, HIV diagnosis and ART initiation) and factors associated with delayed (>8 weeks of age) or no blood sample collection for EID.
Methods
Retrospective cohort study involving record review. A predictive poisson regression model with robust variance estimates was fitted for risk factors of delayed or no sample collection.
Conclusions
Improving provision of ART to mothers (through universal ‘test and treat’) is urgently required, which has the potential to improve the timely uptake of EID as well. Interventions to reduce turnaround times, like point of care EID testing and/or systematic use of mobile technology to communicate results, are needed.”
This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)
Citation
Thiha S, Shewade HD, Philip S, Aung TK, Kyaw NTT, Oo MM, Kyaw KWY, War MW, Oo HN. Early infant diagnosis of HIV in Myanmar: call for innovative interventions to improve uptake and reduce turnaround time. Global Health Action. 2017;10(1):1319616.