Uptake and timing of viral load testing and frequency of viraemic episodes during pregnancy in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Repeated monitoring of viral load (VL) among pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH) is critical in vertical transmission prevention. For women who are newly diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy, a subsequent VL is recommended three months after ART initiation, and for all women living with HIV, follow-up VL is required every six months throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding [2]. Here, we describe the uptake and timing of VL testing and frequency and distribution of viraemic episodes during pregnancy.

Methods

We linked prospective cohort data from WLWH whose infants were born at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMCH) in Johannesburg, South Africa (2013-2018) to laboratory data from the National Health Laboratory Services national HIV cohort. We report the upt

SUBMITTER: Jinga N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11957086 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature