birth testing
Recently Published Documents


TOTAL DOCUMENTS

22
(FIVE YEARS 12)

H-INDEX

6
(FIVE YEARS 1)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262518
Author(s):  
Aurelie Kennedy Nelson ◽  
Tali Cassidy ◽  
Laura Trivino Duran ◽  
Vivian Cox ◽  
Catherine J. Wedderburn ◽  
...  

Background Despite the reduction of HIV mother-to-child transmission, there are concerns regarding transmission rate in the breastfeeding period. We describe the routine uptake of 6 or 10 (6/10) weeks, 9 months and 18 months testing, with and without tracing, in a cohort of infants who received HIV PCR testing at birth (birth PCR) (with and without point of care (POC) testing) in a peri-urban primary health care setting in Khayelitsha, South Africa. Methods In this cohort study conducted between November 2014 and February 2018, HIV-positive mothers and their HIV-exposed babies were recruited at birth and all babies were tested with birth PCR. Results of routine 6/10 weeks PCR, 9 months and 18 months testing were followed up by a patient tracer. We compared testing at 6/10 weeks with a subgroup from historical cohort who was not tested with birth PCR. Results We found that the uptake of 6/10 weeks testing was 77%, compared to 82% with tracing. When including all infants in the cascade and comparing to a historical cohort without birth testing, we found that infants who tested a birth were 22% more likely to have a 6/10 weeks test compared to those not tested at birth. There was no significant difference between the uptake of 6/10 weeks testing after birth PCR POC versus birth PCR testing without POC. Uptake of 9 months and 18 months testing was 39% and 24% respectively. With intense tracing efforts, uptake increased to 45% and 34% respectively. Conclusion Uptake of HIV testing for HIV-exposed uninfected infants in the first 18 months of life shows good completion of the 6/10 weeks PCR but suboptimal uptake of HIV testing at 9 months and 18 months, despite tracing efforts. Birth PCR testing did not negatively affect uptake of the 6/10 weeks HIV test compared to no birth PCR testing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Sacks ◽  
Philisiwe Khumalo ◽  
Bhekisisa Tsabedze ◽  
William Montgomery ◽  
Nobuhle Mthethwa ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. S28-S33
Author(s):  
Haurovi W. Mafaune ◽  
Emma Sacks ◽  
Addmore Chadambuka ◽  
Reuben Musarandega ◽  
Emmanuel Tachiwenyika ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Sacks ◽  
Philisiwe Khumalo ◽  
Bhekisisa Tsabedze ◽  
William Montgomery ◽  
Nobuhle Mthethwa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Testing for HIV at birth has the potential to identify infants infected in utero, and allows for the possibility of beginning treatment immediately after birth; point of care (POC) testing allows rapid return of results and faster initiation on treatment for positive infants. Eswatini piloted birth testing in three public maternities for over two years. Methods: In order to assess the acceptability of POC birth testing in the pilot sites in Eswatini, interviews were held with caregivers of HIV-exposed infants who were offered birth testing (N=28), health care workers (N=14), and policymakers (N=10). Participants were purposively sampled. Interviews were held in English or SiSwati, and transcribed in English. Transcripts were coded by line, and content analysis and constant comparison were used to identify key themes for each respondent type. Results: Responses were categorized into: knowledge, experience, opinions, barriers and challenges, facilitators, and suggestions to improve POC birth testing. Preliminary findings reveal that point of care birth testing has been very well received but challenges were raised. Most caregivers appreciated testing the newborns at birth and getting results quickly, since it reduced anxiety of waiting for several weeks. However, having a favorable experience with testing was linked to having supportive and informed family members and receiving a negative result. Caregivers did not fully understand the need for blood draws as opposed to tests with saliva, and expressed the fears of seeing their newborns in pain. They were specifically grateful for supportive nursing staff who respected their confidentiality. Health care workers expressed strong support for the program but commented on the high demand for testing, increased workload, difficulty with errors in the testing machine itself, and struggles to implement the program without sufficient staffing, especially on evenings and weekends when phlebotomists were not available. Policymakers noted that there have been challenges within the program of losing mothers to follow up after they leave hospital, and recommended stronger linkages to community groups. Conclusions: There is strong support for scale-up of POC birth testing, but countries should consider ways to optimize staffing and manage demand.


2020 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe A. Teasdale ◽  
Fatima Tsiouris ◽  
Arnold Mafukidze ◽  
Siphesihle Shongwe ◽  
Michelle Choy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Sacks ◽  
Philisiwe Khumalo ◽  
Bhekisisa Tsabedze ◽  
William Montgomery ◽  
Nobuhle Mthethwa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Testing for HIV at birth has the potential to identify infants infected in utero , and allows for the possibility of beginning treatment immediately after birth; point of care (POC) testing allows rapid return of results and faster initiation on treatment for positive infants. Eswatini piloted birth testing in three public maternities for over two years. Methods: In order to assess the acceptability of POC birth testing in the pilot sites in Eswatini, interviews were held with caregivers of HIV-exposed infants who were offered birth testing (N=28), health care workers (N=14), and policymakers (N=10). Participants were purposively sampled. Interviews were held in English or SiSwati, and transcribed in English. Transcripts were coded by line, and content analysis and constant comparison were used to identify key themes for each respondent type. Results: Responses were categorized into: knowledge, experience, opinions, barriers and challenges, facilitators, and suggestions to improve POC birth testing. Preliminary findings reveal that point of care birth testing has been very well received but challenges were raised. Most caregivers appreciated testing the newborns at birth and getting results quickly, since it reduced anxiety of waiting for several weeks. However, having a favorable experience with testing was linked to having supportive and informed family members and receiving a negative result. Caregivers did not fully understand the need for blood draws as opposed to tests with saliva, and expressed the fears of seeing their newborns in pain. They were specifically grateful for supportive nursing staff who respected their confidentiality. Health care workers expressed strong support for the program but commented on the high demand for testing, increased workload, difficulty with errors in the testing machine itself, and struggles to implement the program without sufficient staffing, especially on evenings and weekends when phlebotomists were not available. Policymakers noted that there have been challenges within the program of losing mothers to follow up after they leave hospital, and recommended stronger linkages to community groups. Conclusions: There is strong support for scale-up of POC birth testing, but countries should consider ways to optimize staffing and manage demand.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. e138-e142
Author(s):  
Shayla Smith ◽  
Kerusha Govender ◽  
Pravi Moodley ◽  
Philip La Russa ◽  
Louise Kuhn ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document