Factors Influencing Loss to Follow-up among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Exposed Infants in the Early Infant Diagnosis Program in Phalombe, Malawi.

ABSTRACT: The efforts to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV in Malawi are impeded by the loss to follow-up of HIV-exposed infants (HEI) in care. Early infant diagnosis (EID) of HEI and linkage to care reduces morbidity and mortality. There has been limited attention to infants who are lost to follow up despite their mothers being compliant to the PMTCT program. This study explored factors that influence loss-to-follow up among HEI in the EID program whose mothers were retained in care for up to 24 months in Phalombe district, Malawi. We conducted a descriptive phenomenological qualitative study from May 2017 to July 2018. We purposively conducted 18 in-depth interviews among HIV positive mothers whose HEI were enrolled in the follow-up program and 7 key informant interviews among healthcare

SUBMITTER: Nkhonjera J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7995308 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature