Validation of the International Guide for Monitoring Child Development demonstrates good sensitivity and specificity in four diverse countries.

AIM: It is of critical importance to have internationally constructed tools to address early childhood development. The aim of this second phase of a two-phase study was to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) in identifying developmental delay in four diverse countries. METHODS: The first phase of this 2011-2015 back-to-back study included 4949 children up to 42 months of age from primary healthcare centres in Argentina, India, South Africa and Turkey. Distribution curves were generated to show the ages when the children attained GMCD milestones and those that could be used across sexes and countries were placed in age ranges corresponding to the 85th and 97th percentile point estimates. Phase two examined a separately recruited sample of children in those countries to determine sensitivity and specificity of the GMCD. RESULTS: The validation phase of the 85 milestones in the GMCD identified delayed development in 30% of the 1731 children in the four countries. The sensitivity and specificity ranged from 0.71-0.94 and 0.69-0.82, respectively, for the total sample and the different age groups. CONCLUSION: The GMCD standardised in four diverse countries has appropriate accuracy for identification of children with developmental delay.

Similarities and differences in child development from birth to age 3 years by sex and across four countries: a cross-sectional, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about typical development is of fundamental importance for understanding and promoting child health and development. We aimed to ascertain when healthy children in four culturally and linguistically different countries attain developmental milestones and to identify similarities and differences across sexes and countries. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, observational study, we recruited children aged 0-42 months and their caregivers between March 3, 2011, and May 18, 2015, at 22 health clinics in Argentina, India, South Africa, and Turkey. We obtained a healthy subsample, which excluded children with a low birthweight, perinatal complications, chronic illness, undernutrition, or anaemia, and children with missing health data. Using the Guide for Monitoring Child Development, caregivers described their child's development in seven domains: expressive and receptive language, gross and fine motor, play, relating, and self-help. Clinicians examining the children also completed a checklist about the child's health status. We used logit and probit regression models based on the lowest deviance information criterion to generate Bayesian point estimates and 95% credible intervals for the 50th percentile ages of attainment of 106 milestones. We assessed the significance of differences between sexes and countries using predefined criteria and regions of practical equivalence. FINDINGS: Of 10 246 children recruited, 4949 children (48·3%) were included in the healthy subsample. For the 106 milestones assessed, the median age of attainment was equivalent for 102 (96%) milestones across sexes and 81 (76%) milestones across the four countries. Across countries, median ages of attainment were equivalent for all play milestones, 20 (77%) of 26 expressive language milestones, ten (67%) of 15 receptive language milestones, nine (82%) of 11 fine motor milestones, 14 (88%) of 16 gross motor milestones, and eight (73%) of 11 relating milestones. However, across the four countries the median age of attainment was equivalent for only two (22%) of nine milestones in the self-help domain. INTERPRETATION: The ages of attainment of developmental milestones in healthy children, and the similarities and differences across sexes and country samples might aid the development of international tools to guide policy, service delivery, and intervention research, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. FUNDING: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Early diagnosis is critical to ensure good outcomes in HIV-infected children: outlining barriers to care.

HIV-infected children require early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to ensure good outcomes. The aim was to investigate missed opportunities in childhood HIV diagnosis leading to delayed ART initiation. Baseline data were reviewed of all children aged <15 years referred over a 1-year period for ART initiation to the Kalafong Hospital HIV services in Gauteng, South Africa. Of the 250 children, one-quarter (24.5%) was of school-going age, 34.5% in the preschool group, 18% between 6 and 12 months old and 23% below 6 months of age (median age = 1.5 years [interquartile range 0.5-4.8]). Most children (82%) presented with advanced/severe HIV disease, particularly those aged 6-12 months (95%). Malnutrition was prominent and referrals were mostly from hospital inpatient services (61%). A structured caregiver interview was conducted in a subgroup, with detailed review of medical records and HIV results. The majority (≥89%) of the 65 interviewed caregivers reported good access to routine healthcare, except for postnatal care (26%). Maternal HIV-testing was mostly done during the second and third pregnancy trimesters (69%). Maternal non-disclosure of HIV status was common (63%) and 83% of mothers reported a lack of psychosocial support. Routine infant HIV-testing was not done in 66%, and inadequate reporting on patient-held records (Road-to-Health Cards/Booklets) occurred frequently (74%). Children with symptomatic HIV disease were not investigated at primary healthcare in 53%, and in 68% of families the siblings were not tested. One-third of children (35%) had a previous HIV diagnosis, with 77% of caregivers aware of these prior results, while 50% acknowledged failing to attend ART services despite referral. In conclusion, a clear strategy on paediatric HIV case finding, especially at primary healthcare, is vital. Multiple barriers need to be overcome in the HIV care pathway to reach high uptake of services, of which especially maternal reasons for not attending paediatric ART services need further exploration.

A randomized clinical trial of an intervention to promote resilience in young children of HIV-positive mothers in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of an intervention designed to promote resilience in young children living with their HIV-positive mothers. DESIGN/METHODS: HIV-positive women attending clinics in Tshwane, South Africa, and their children, aged 6-10 years, were randomized to the intervention (I) or standard care (S). The intervention consisted of 24 weekly group sessions led by community care workers. Mothers and children were in separate groups for 14 sessions, followed by 10 interactive sessions. The primary focus was on parent-child communication and parenting. Assessments were completed by mothers and children at baseline and 6, 12 and 18 months. Repeated mixed linear analyses were used to assess change over time. RESULTS: Of 390 mother-child pairs, 84.6% (I: 161 and S: 169) completed at least two interviews and were included in the analyses. Children's mean age was 8.4 years and 42% of mothers had been ill in the prior 3 months. Attendance in groups was variable: only 45.7% attended more than 16 sessions. Intervention mothers reported significant improvements in children's externalizing behaviours (ß = -2.8, P = 0.002), communication (ß = 4.3, P = 0.025) and daily living skills (ß = 5.9, P = 0.024), although improvement in internalizing behaviours and socialization was not significant (P = 0.061 and 0.052, respectively). Intervention children reported a temporary increase in anxiety but did not report differences in depression or emotional intelligence. CONCLUSION: This is the first study demonstrating benefits of an intervention designed to promote resilience among young children of HIV-positive mothers. The intervention was specifically designed for an African context and has the potential to benefit large numbers of children, if it can be widely implemented.

The role of parenting in affecting the behavior and adaptive functioning of young children of HIV-infected mothers in South Africa.

Prior investigations suggest that maternal HIV/AIDS poses significant challenges to young children. This study investigates the relationships between mothers' psychological functioning, parenting, and children's behavioral outcomes and functioning in a population of women living with HIV (N = 361) with a child between the ages of 6 and 10 years in Tshwane, South Africa. Utilizing path analysis, findings revealed that maternal depression is related to increased parenting stress and parent-child dysfunction, maternal coping is related to parenting style, and maternal coping, parenting style and stress, and parent-child dysfunction are associated with children's behavior and functioning, with parenting emerging as an important mediator. These findings suggest that interventions for women living with HIV and their children should not only address maternal psychological functioning (depression and coping), but should also focus on parenting, promoting a positive approach.

Barriers to male-partner participation in programs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa.

Efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) in sub-Saharan Africa have focused overwhelmingly on women, to the unintended exclusion of their male partners. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tshwane, South Africa, to determine barriers to male-partner participation during PMTCT. In-depth interviews were conducted with 124 men whose partners had recently been pregnant, and five focus group discussions were held with physicians, nurses, HIV counselors, and community representatives. Qualitative analysis revealed that while most fathers believed that HIV testing is an important part of preparing for fatherhood, there are formidable structural and psychosocial barriers: the perception of clinics as not "male-friendly," a narrow focus on HIV testing instead of general wellness, and a lack of expectations and opportunities for fathers to participate in health care. Coupled with more family-oriented approaches to PMTCT, measurable improvements in the way that male partners are invited to and engaged in HIV prevention during pregnancy can help PMTCT programs to achieve their full potential.

Where are the men? Targeting male partners in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Involvement of male partners may increase adherence to and improve outcomes of programs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). Greater understanding of factors impeding male voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) is needed. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tshwane, South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were completed with men whose partners had recently been pregnant. Of 124 men who participated, 94% believed male HIV testing was important, but 40% had never been tested. Of those tested, 32% were tested during the pregnancy, while 37% were tested afterward. Fifty-eight percent of men reported that their female partners had disclosed their test results during pregnancy. A man's likelihood of testing during pregnancy was associated with prior discussion of testing in PMTCT, knowing the female partner had tested, and her disclosure of the test result (all p<0.05). In terms of increasing male-partner HIV testing rates, 74% of the men reported they would respond favorably to a written invitation for VCT from their partners. Based on themes that emerged during the interviews, six partner invitation cards to encourage male involvement in PMTCT were designed. Responses to the cards were elicited from 158 men and 409 women. One invitation card framed by the themes of fatherhood and the baby was selected by 41% of men and 31% of women as the most likely for women undergoing PMTCT to bring to their male partners and the most successful at encouraging men to be tested. In conclusion, this study found that a substantial proportion of men whose partners were recently pregnant had never been tested themselves; of those who had tested, most had done so only after the pregnancy. Encouraging partner communication and clinic attendance using an invitation card could facilitate increased male testing and participation in PMTCT.

A pilot study using interactive SMS support groups to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa.

We investigated the feasibility of using mobile phone text messaging (SMS) to promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected pregnant women recently diagnosed with HIV. Seven HIV-positive women (15-33 weeks gestation) from two urban antenatal clinics received mobile phones and were invited to use text messaging to discuss HIV, health and pregnancy over a 12-week period. All participants were connected to each other and to a clinician who guided the group and answered questions via group SMS messaging. A total of 1018 individual messages were sent regarding medical and psychosocial topics related to HIV and mother-to-child HIV transmission. Participants sent an average of 16 messages per enrolled, technology-problem-free week. Half the messages (51%) concerned medical information, and the remainder concerned social comments or addressed psychological matters. Four post-intervention interviews with participants revealed overall satisfaction and participants recommended that the group be offered in the future. The pilot project's anonymity, non-rigid nature and remote access allowed it to overcome stigma and logistical challenges where a conventional support intervention would probably have failed.

Development of a measure of the patient-provider relationship in antenatal care and its importance in PMTCT.

The prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) is a complex challenge in heavily affected and resource-limited settings such as South Africa. Management of PMTCT requires a cascade of interventions that need to be addressed to effectively decrease the risk of HIV transmission to infants. This PMTCT cascade includes incremental components that can be shaped and influenced by the patient-provider relationship. The relationship that a pregnant woman has with her care providers may possibly affect decisions that she makes concerning her antenatal care and may, in turn, influence the quality of the care provided. A patient-provider relationship scale (PPRS) was developed in Pretoria, South Africa with two aims: first, to quantify the patient-provider relationship in an antenatal population in a resource-limited setting and provide preliminary evidence of its reliability and validity; and second, to determine whether the patient-provider relationship has an effect on PMTCT. The instrument was administrated in a cross-sectional pilot study to a group of women at discharge after delivery (n=192) at two major hospitals in South West Tshwane. Statistical analysis of the instrument showed high reliability (α=0.91) and preliminary evidence of its validity including significant associations with participants' attitudes regarding the functioning of the clinics and a single statement (the clinic staff "know me as a person," R=0.47, p<0.001) that has been shown previously to have a significant association with adherence to antiretroviral treatment. For HIV-positive participants, the PPRS was significantly associated with statements related to important components of the PMTCT cascade. In addition, those with substantially inadequate antenatal care (≤2 visits) and those who did not initiate highly active antiretroviral therapy, although eligible, had significantly poorer PPRS scores. The PPRS is a potentially useful, context-appropriate instrument that could have an important role in future research focused on improving PMTCT and decreasing the risk of HIV infection in children.

The impact of structured support groups for pregnant South African women recently diagnosed HIV positive.

The authors of this study evaluated a structured 10-session psychosocial support group intervention for newly HIV-diagnosed pregnant South African women. Participants were expected to display increases in HIV disclosure, self-esteem, active coping and positive social support, and decreases in depression, avoidant coping, and negative social support. Three hundred sixty-one pregnant HIV-infected women were recruited from four antenatal clinics in Tshwane townships from April 2005 to September 2006. Using a quasi-experimental design, assessments were conducted at baseline and two and eight months post-intervention. A series of random effects regression analyses were conducted, with the three assessment points treated as a random effect of time. At both follow-ups, the rate of disclosure in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the comparison group (p<0.001). Compared to the comparison group at the first follow-up, the intervention group displayed higher levels of active coping (t=2.68, p<0.05) and lower levels of avoidant coping (t=-2.02, p<0.05), and those who attended at least half of the intervention sessions exhibited improved self-esteem (t=2.11, p<0.05). Group interventions tailored for newly HIV positive pregnant women, implemented in resource-limited settings, may accelerate the process of adjusting to one's HIV status, but may not have sustainable benefits over time.

Factors affecting disclosure in South African HIV-positive pregnant women.

To provide understanding of social and psychological factors that affect disclosure of HIV status among women diagnosed HIV-positive in pregnancy, 438 HIV positive women attending antenatal al clinics in Pretoria, South Africa were invited to participate in a longitudinal study. A total of 293 (62%) women were enrolled from June 2003 to December 2004. Questionnaires assessing sociodemographics and psychological measures were administered during pregnancy and at 3 months postdelivery. At enrollment, 59% had disclosed to their partners and 42% to others. This rose to 67% and 59%, respectively, by follow-up. Logistic regression analysis identified being married (adjusted odds Ratio [AOR] 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-4.47), prior discussion about testing (AOR 4.19; CI 2.34-7.49), having a partner with tertiary education (AOR 2.76; CI 1.29-5.88) and less experience of violence (AOR 0.48; CI 0.24-0.97) as factors associated with having disclosed to partners prior to enrollment. Better housing (AOR 1.26; CI 1.06-1.49), less financial dependence on partners (AOR 0.46; CI 0.25-0.85), and knowing someone with HIV (AOR 2.13; CI 1.20-3.76) were associated with prior disclosure to others. Increased levels of stigma at baseline decreased the likelihood of disclosure to partners postenrollment (AOR 0.91; CI 0.84-0.98) and increased levels of avoidant coping decreased subsequent disclosure to others (AOR 0.84; CI 0.72-0.97). These results provide understanding of disclosure for women diagnosed as HIV positive in pregnancy, and identify variables that could be used to screen for women who require help.

To tell or not to tell: South African women's disclosure of HIV status during pregnancy.

HIV-positive pregnant women often do not disclose their serostatus to their partners, family and friends, creating potential barriers to preventing sexual transmission to partners and mother-to-child transmission through breastfeeding. This research explores recently diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women's reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure of serostatus to various members of their social networks, as well as the consequences of their disclosure. Data were collected through open-ended questions as part of a semi-structured interview with 293 recently diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women recruited from antenatal clinics in two townships in Tshwane, South Africa. A content analysis of responses showed that women weighed fear of abandonment and discrimination against their desire to raise risk awareness and their need for support. Partners most often responded to disclosure with disbelief and shock, whereas parents frequently exhibited emotional distress, but were still supportive, as were other relatives and friends. The women subsequently experienced low levels of adverse consequences after disclosure. The results can assist healthcare providers in understanding the complexity of pregnant women's decisions to disclose to various members of their social networks and emphasize the need for continued counselling and support.

Development of parallel scales to measure HIV-related stigma.

HIV-related stigma is a multidimensional concept which has pervasive effects on the lives of HIV-infected people as well as serious consequences for the management of HIV/AIDS. In this research three parallel stigma scales were developed to assess personal views of stigma, stigma attributed to others, and internalised stigma experienced by HIV-infected individuals. The stigma scales were administered in two samples: a community sample of 1,077 respondents and 317 HIV-infected pregnant women recruited at clinics from the same community in Tshwane (South Africa). A two-factor structure referring to moral judgment and interpersonal distancing was confirmed across scales and sample groups. The internal consistency of the scales was acceptable and evidence of validity is reported. Parallel scales to assess and compare different perspectives of stigma provide opportunities for research aimed at understanding stigma, assessing the consequences or evaluating possible interventions aimed at reducing stigma.

The political path to mandatory prenatal HIV testing in Connecticut.

Editor's note: The study by Simpson and Forsyth published in this issue of JANAC is an evaluation of women's reactions to Connecticut Public Act 99-2, which established mandatory HIV testing for pregnant women in the state. Manuscript reviewers requested further information about the legislation. The authors provide an overview of the legislation in this commentary.

State-mandated HIV testing in Connecticut: personal perspectives of women found to be infected during pregnancy.

In the 5 years after the adoption of state-mandated HIV testing in Connecticut, 33% of HIV-positive pregnant women in the state were newly diagnosed during their pregnancy. Women who first learned that they were HIV-infected during pregnancy comprised of a unique group of people tested, in essence, by state mandate. A total of 11 such women agreed to in-depth interviews to share their personal perspectives regarding the benefits as well as the adverse sequelae of HIV testing for themselves, their children, and the public health. Each woman recalled her initial response to the law, to her HIV diagnosis, and to the seemingly unavoidable challenge to her self-identity and described the ensuing adjustments. There was universal agreement by the study subjects that the law was of overriding and significant benefit.

Pediatricians' training and identification and management of psychosocial problems.

This study evaluated the association of pediatrician training on the identification and management of current and ongoing emotional or behavioral problems among children ages 4-8 years in 19 practices in south-central Connecticut. Pediatricians with advanced training in psychosocial issues were more likely to identify children's psychosocial problems and use multiple management strategies compared with pediatricians with no specialized training. Although pediatricians with moderate training in psychosocial issues were more likely to identify psychosocial problems compared with pediatricians with no training, there was no relationship between moderate training and management of psychosocial problems. These results suggest that identification and management of young children's psychosocial problems demands advanced training and support the American Academy of Pediatrics' call for more extensive training.

Rapid HIV testing of women in labor: too long a delay.

For HIV-infected women who have not received antiretroviral treatment or transmission prophylaxis in pregnancy, starting antiretrovirals in labor or soon after birth can still decrease the risk of perinatal transmission. There is, therefore, potential benefit in conducting rapid HIV testing in labor, but hospitals are seldom prepared to conduct such testing. We compared protocols for rapid HIV testing at 2 hospitals to determine what proportion of women had results back early enough to intervene if results had been positive. Hospital A initially used HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and changed to using rapid tests (eg, Single Use Diagnostic System [SUDS]); hospital B used only the SUDS. With use of the SUDS in hospital A, results were reported more quickly than with the ELISA protocol in the same hospital (P < 0.0001). Comparing use of the SUDS in the 2 hospitals, test results were available more quickly in hospital A than hospital B (P < 0.05), which resulted in hospital A having more results reported prior to delivery (64% vs. 38%, P < 0.05) and within 12 hours postdelivery (94% vs. 73%, P < 0.05). If HIV testing in labor is to have its maximum effect on decreasing the risk of perinatal HIV transmission, hospitals need to institute rapid HIV testing, but protocols must ensure that results are available as quickly as possible.

Analyzing multiply matched cohort studies with two different comparison groups: application to pregnancy rates among HIV+ women.

We develop a new statistical method to analyze multiply matched cohort studies with two different comparison groups. We employ a linear-logistic model to describe the underlying log-odds ratios and use a conditional likelihood approach to conduct inference. Under the assumption of homogeneous log-odds ratios, we provide methods to construct both asymptotic and exact confidence regions of the two log-odds ratios in a simple case. We propose a score test to evaluate the assumption of homogeneous log-odds ratios across strata. While our methods are general, we develop them around a specific application, namely, the study of pregnancy rates in HIV-infected women. Our analyses suggest that HIV infection is associated with a decrease in pregnancy rates and that this decrease in fertility becomes significant after accounting for illicit drug use.

Pregnancy and birth rates among HIV-infected women in the United States: the confounding effects of illicit drug use.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of HIV infection on pregnancy and birth rates and assess the potentially confounding effect of illicit drug use. DESIGN: A retrospective record review of matched cohorts examining pregnancy outcomes for HIV-positive women and two HIV-negative comparison groups (one matched by drug use). METHODS: Ninety HIV-positive women who gave birth in a US city between 1989 and 1993 were matched to HIV-negative women by race, age, parity and date of index birth (group 1, N = 180) and also by the type of illicit drug used (group 2, N = 90). Data were abstracted on tubal ligations and pregnancies occurring before April 1996. RESULTS: A total of 63% of HIV-positive women used cocaine during the index pregnancy and 26% also used opiates. HIV-positive women had fewer tubal ligations than group 1 (38.9% versus 51.1%, P = 0.058), but there was no difference when matching included drug use (38.9% in group 2). HIV infection was associated with a decrease in the number of pregnancies; this decrease was most marked when matching included drug use (18.0 versus 32.1 pregnancies per 100 woman-years,P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in spontaneous or therapeutic terminations. Poisson regression analysis demonstrated that HIV infection and older age were associated with fewer pregnancies, and cocaine use with an increased pregnancy rate. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that HIV infection is associated with a decrease in the number of pregnancies, but also illustrates the confounding effects of illicit drug use among women in the United States.