Impact of point-of-care maternal viral load testing at delivery on vertical HIV transmission risk assessment and neonatal prophylaxis: a cluster randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Despite global reductions in vertical HIV transmission (VHT), 120,000 children newly acquired HIV in 2023. High maternal viral load (VL) is a major risk factor for VHT. We estimated the impact of point-of-care (PoC) maternal VL testing at delivery in profiling the risk of VHT and its impact on appropriate postnatal prophylaxis for infants born to women living with HIV (WLWH).

Methods

The cluster-randomized LIFE (Long term Impact on inFant hEalth) study was conducted at 28 health facilities in Tanzania and Mozambique from 2019 to 2021. At delivery, the intervention arm applied PoC maternal VL plus clinical criteria for VHT risk assessment, while the control arm used clinical criteria only. In Tanzania, both arms provided ePNP based on maternal risk factors, while

SUBMITTER: Lwilla AF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12302277 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature