Integration of postpartum healthcare services for HIV-infected women and their infants in South Africa: A randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As the number of HIV-infected women initiating lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy increases globally, concerns have emerged regarding low levels of retention in HIV services and suboptimal adherence to ART during the postpartum period. We examined the impact of integrating postpartum ART for HIV+ mothers alongside infant follow-up within maternal and child health (MCH) services in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods and findings

We conducted a randomised trial among HIV+ postpartum women aged ≥18 years who initiated ART during pregnancy in the local antenatal care clinic and were breastfeeding when screened before 6 weeks postpartum. We compared an integrated postnatal service among mothers and their infants (the MCH-ART intervention) to the local

SUBMITTER: Myer L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5877834 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature