How much could anemia-related interventions reduce the HIV disparity in adverse birth outcomes?

Women and other people of childbearing potential living with HIV (WLHIV) have a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes than those without HIV (WWHIV). A higher risk of anemia in WLHIV could partially explain this disparity. Using a birth outcomes surveillance study in Botswana, we emulated target trials corresponding to currently available or feasible interventions on anemia. The first target trial evaluated two interventions: initiate multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS), and MMS or iron and folic acid supplementation by 24 weeks gestation. The remaining target trials evaluated the interventions: eliminate anemia before pregnancy; and jointly eliminate anemia before pregnancy and initiate MMS. We estimated the observed disparity in adverse birth outcomes between WLHIV and WWHIV and compared the observed disparity measure (ODM) to the counterfactual disparity measure (CDM) under each intervention. Of 137,499 individuals (22% WLHIV), the observed risk of any adverse birth outcome was 26.0% in WWHIV and 34.5% in WLHIV (ODM, 8.5% [95% CI, 7.9-9.1%]). CDMs (95% CIs) ranged from 6.6% (4.8-8.4%) for the intervention to eliminate anemia and initiate MMS to 8.4% (7.7-9.1%) for the intervention to eliminate anemia only. Preventing anemia and expanding MMS may reduce HIV disparities in birth outcomes, but interventions with greater impact should be identified.

Clinic transfers and engagement in HIV care during the perinatal period across a network of healthcare centers in Lilongwe, Malawi.

INTRODUCTION: Disengagement from HIV care during the perinatal period remains a challenge. Improving engagement in HIV care requires monitoring engagement across multiple indicators, including retention in HIV care, visit adherence, clinic transfers, and viral suppression to support improved clinical and programmatic outcomes. METHODS: We enrolled a prospective cohort of pregnant WHIV across a network of five urban clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi from February 2020-February 2021. WHIV were followed from their first antenatal care visit through 9 months postpartum across all study sites using biometric fingerprint scanning. Study visits occurred at enrollment into antenatal care, 6 weeks', 6 months, and 9 months postpartum. In addition, all usual care HIV visits were captured via medical records. Participants who missed a study visit or usual care visit were traced. We evaluated determinants of multiple indicators of engagement in care, including retention in HIV care (attending a scheduled visit or self-reported recent visit when traced), HIV visit adherence (missed scheduled HIV visits and HIV visit coverage), clinic transfers, and viral load suppression (< 1000 copies/mL) using modified Poisson regression and sub-distributional hazard ratios to account for competing events of death and loss-to-follow-up. Associations between clinic transfer and subsequent indicators of engagement in HIV care were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Among 399 participants, 81% were on ART at baseline. Retention in HIV care was 87% at 6 weeks postpartum, 77% at 6 months postpartum and 89% at 9 months postpartum. At 9 months postpartum, 91% of participants were virally suppressed, 81% had missed a scheduled HIV visit, and 19% had transferred clinics. WHIV who transferred clinics were most likely to miss their subsequent scheduled HIV visit by ≥ 30 days. Transferring clinics was not associated with unsuppressed viral load or non-retention at 9 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of WHIV, retention and viral load suppression were high in the perinatal period, but missed HIV visits and clinic transfers were common. Transferring clinics was associated with an increased likelihood of missing a subsequent HIV visit. Clinic transfers may be important indicators of disruptions in clinical care for WHIV in the perinatal period.

Acceptability and feasibility of using a blended quality improvement strategy among health workers to monitor women engagement in Option B+ program in Lilongwe Malawi.

Option B + provides lifelong ART to pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) and improve maternal health. The effectiveness of Option B + relies on continuous engagement, but suboptimal monitoring of HIV care hinders our measurements of engagement. Process mapping and quality improvement (PROMAQI) is a quality improvement strategy for healthcare workers (HCWs) to optimize complex processes such as monitoring HIV care. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of the PROMAQI among HCWs and identified barriers and facilitators for PROMAQI implementation. A cross-sectional study using a mixed method approach was conducted from August 2021 to March 2022 across five urban health facilities participating in PROMAQI implementation n the Lilongwe district, Malawi. We assessed PROMAQI acceptability and feasibility at the end of the study. A 5-point Likert (1 = worst to 5 = best) scale tool was administered to 110 HCWs (n = 15-33 per facility) involved in PROMAQI implementationThese data were analysed using descriptive statistics Among the 110 HCWs, twenty-two (QI team (n = 11) and QI implementers (n = 11)) were purposively selected for in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted using deducted and inductive approaches. The theoretical framework for acceptability (TFA) was used to identify reasons for acceptability. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to characterize the barriers and facilitators of PROMAQI implementation. HCWs recruited had a median age of 37 (32-43) years, 82.0% of whom were female. Most (42%) had completed secondary education, and 84% were nurses and community health workers. The median (IQR) acceptability and feasibility scores for the PROMAQI were 5 (IQR 4-5) and 4 (IQR 4-5), respectively. Reasons for high PROMAQI acceptability included addressing a relevant gap and improving performance. Perceived implementation barriers included poor work attitudes, time constraints, resource limitations, knowledge gaps, and workbook difficulties. The facilitators included communication, mentorship, training, and financial incentives. PROMAQI is a highly acceptable and feasible tool for monitoring engagement of women in Option B + . Addressing these barriers may optimize the implementation of PROMAQI. Scaling up PROMAQI may enhance retention in the Option B + program and facilitate eMTCT.

An Intervention to Improve Mental Health and HIV Care Engagement Among Perinatal Women in Malawi: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Perinatal depression (PND) is common and an important barrier to engagement in HIV care for women living with HIV (WLHIV). Accordingly, we adapted and enhanced The Friendship Bench, an evidence-based counseling intervention, for perinatal WLHIV. In a pilot randomized trial (NCT04143009), we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and preliminary efficacy of the Enhanced Friendship Bench (EFB) intervention to improve PND and engagement in HIV care outcomes. Eighty pregnant WLHIV who screened positive for PND symptoms on the Self-Report Questionnaire (≥ 8) were enrolled, randomized 1:1 to EFB or usual care, and followed through 6 months postpartum. Overall, 100% of intervention participants were satisfied with the intervention and 93% found it beneficial to their overall health. Of 82 counseling sessions assessed for fidelity, 83% met or exceeded the fidelity threshold. At 6 months postpartum, intervention participants had improved depression remission (59% versus 36%, RD 23%, 95% CI 2%, 45%), retention in HIV care (82% versus 69%, RD 13%, -6%, 32%), and viral suppression (96% versus 90%, RD 7%, -7%, 20%) compared to usual care. Adverse events did not differ by arm. These results suggest that EFB intervention should be evaluated in a fully powered randomized trial to evaluate its efficacy to improve PND and engagement in HIV care outcomes for WLHIV.

Maternal weight trajectories and associations with infant growth in South African women.

BACKGROUND: Despite the close relationship between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight (PPW), these factors are often studied separately. There are no data characterising longitudinal weight trajectories among pregnant and postpartum women in urban African populations. We examined maternal weight trajectories from pregnancy through to 12 months postpartum, factors associated with higher weight trajectory class membership and associations of weight trajectories with infant growth at 12 months. METHODS: Data from 989 women were examined for weight trajectories from first antenatal care visit in pregnancy to 12 months postpartum using latent-class growth models. Baseline factors associated with class membership were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Of the enrolled women, 613 of their infants were assessed for growth at 12 months. Anthropometry measurements for mothers and infants were conducted by a trained study nurse. Associations between maternal weight trajectory class and infant weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), weight-for-length (WLZ) at 12 months of age were analysed using linear regression. RESULTS: Four distinct classes of maternal weight trajectories were identified. The classes included consistent low (29%), consistent medium (37%), medium-high (24%) and consistent high (10%) trajectories. Similar to trends observed with medium-high trajectory, baseline factors positively associated with consistent high class membership included age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09), pre-pregnancy BMI (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.97-2.56), stage 1 hypertension (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.68-6.41), haemoglobin levels (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.11-1.74) and parity (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.15-1.67); living with HIV (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.74) was inversely associated. In adjusted analyses, compared to consistent medium weight trajectory, consistent low weight trajectory (mean difference -0.41, 95% CI -0.71;-0.12) was associated with decreased, and consistent high weight trajectory (mean difference 1.21, 95% CI 0.59-1.83) with increased infant WAZ at 12 months of age. CONCLUSION: Identification of unique longitudinal weight trajectory groupings might inform comprehensive efforts targeted at improving healthy maternal weight and infant outcomes.

Cyclical Engagement in HIV Care: A Qualitative Study of Clinic Transfers to Re-enter HIV Care in Cape Town, South Africa.

Long-term patient engagement and retention in HIV care is an ongoing challenge in South Africa's strained health system. However, some patients thought to be "lost to follow-up" (LTFU) may have "transferred" clinics to receive care elsewhere. Through semi-structured interviews, we explored the relationship between clinic transfer and long-term patient engagement among 19 treatment-experienced people living with HIV (PLWH) who self-identified as having engaged in a clinic transfer at least once since starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Gugulethu, Cape Town. Our findings suggest that patient engagement is often fluid, as PLWH cycle in and out of care multiple times during their lifetime. The linear nature of the HIV care cascade model poorly describes the lived realities of PLWH on established treatment. Further research is needed to explore strategies for reducing unplanned clinic transfers and offer more supportive care to new and returning patients.

Relationship between pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index and infant weight trajectories in HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants.

BACKGROUND: Maternal HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) exposure in utero may influence infant weight, but the contribution of maternal y body mass index (BMI) to early life overweight and obesity is not clear. OBJECTIVE: To estimate associations between maternal BMI at entry to antenatal care (ANC) and infant weight through approximately 1 year of age and to evaluate whether associations were modified by maternal HIV status, maternal HIV and viral load, breastfeeding intensity through 6 months or timing of entry into ANC. METHODS: We followed HIV-uninfected and -infected pregnant women initiating efavirenz-based ART from first antenatal visit through 12 months postpartum. Infant weight was assessed via World Health Organization BMI and weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. We used multivariable linear mixed-effects models to estimate associations between maternal BMI and infant z-scores over time. RESULTS: In 861 HIV-uninfected infants (454 HIV-exposed; 407 HIV-unexposed), nearly 20% of infants were overweight or obese by 12 months of age, regardless of HIV exposure status. In multivariable analyses, increasing maternal BMI category was positively associated with higher infant BMIZ and WLZ scores between 6 weeks and 12 months of age and did not differ by HIV exposure status. However, HIV-exposed infants had slightly lower BMIZ and WLZ trajectories through 12 months of age, compared with HIV-unexposed infants across all maternal BMI categories. Differences in BMIZ and WLZ scores by HIV exposure were not explained by timing of entry into ANC or maternal viral load pre-ART initiation, but z-scores were slightly higher for HIV-exposed infants who were predominantly or exclusively versus partially breastfed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest maternal BMI influences early infant weight gain, regardless of infant HIV exposure status. Intervention to reduce maternal BMI may help to address growing concerns about obesity among HIV-uninfected children.

The feasibility and acceptability of a task-shifted intervention for perinatal depression among women living with HIV in Malawi: a qualitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression (PND) is prevalent and negatively impacts HIV care among women living with HIV (WLHIV), yet PND remains under-identified in Malawian WLHIV. Accordingly, this formative study explored perceptions of the feasibility and acceptability of an integrated, task-shifted approach to PND screening and treatment in maternity clinics. METHODS: We completed consecutive PND screenings of HIV+ women attending pre- or post-natal appointments at 5 clinics in Lilongwe district, Malawi. We conducted in-depth interviews with the first 4-5 women presenting with PND per site (n = 24 total) from July to August 2018. PND classification was based on a score ≥ 10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). We conducted 10 additional in-depth interviews with HIV and mental health providers at the 5 clinics. RESULTS: Most participants endorsed the feasibility of integrated PND screening, as they believed that PND had potential for significant morbidity. Among providers, identified barriers to screening were negative staff attitudes toward additional work, inadequate staffing numbers and time constraints. Suggested solutions to barriers were health worker training, supervision, and a brief screening tool. Patient-centered counselling strategies were favored over medication by WLHIV as the acceptable treatment of choice, with providers supporting the role of medication to be restricted to severe depression. Providers identified nurses as the most suitable health workers to deliver task-shifted interventions and emphasized further training as a requirement to ensure successful task shifting. CONCLUSION: Improving PND in a simple, task-shifted intervention is essential for supporting mental health among women with PND and HIV. Our results suggest that an effective PND intervention for this population should include a brief, streamlined PND screening questionnaire and individualized counselling for those who have PND, with supplemental support groups and depression medication readily available. These study results support the development of a PND intervention to address the gap in treatment of PND and HIV among WLHIV in Malawi.

Predicting Progression from Gestational Diabetes to Impaired Glucose Tolerance Using Peridelivery Data: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to develop a predictive model to identify persons with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) most likely to progress to impaired glucose tolerance postpartum. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an observational study among persons with GDM in their most recent pregnancy, defined by Carpenter-Coustan criteria. Participants were followed up from delivery through 1-year postpartum. We used lasso regression with k-fold cross validation to develop a multivariable model to predict progression to impaired glucose tolerance, defined as HbA1c≥5.7%, at 1-year postpartum. Predictive ability was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). RESULTS: Of 203 participants, 71 (35%) had impaired glucose tolerance at 1-year postpartum. The final model had an AUC of 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72, 0.85) and included eight indicators of weight, body mass index, family history of type 2 diabetes, GDM in a prior pregnancy, GDM diagnosis<24 weeks' gestation, and fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose at 2 days postpartum. A cutoff point of ≥ 0.25 predicted probability had sensitivity of 80% (95% CI: 69, 89), specificity of 58% (95% CI: 49, 67), PPV of 51% (95% CI: 41, 61), and NPV of 85% (95% CI: 76, 91) to identify women with impaired glucose tolerance at 1-year postpartum. CONCLUSION: Our predictive model had reasonable ability to predict impaired glucose tolerance around delivery for persons with recent GDM. KEY POINTS: · We developed a predictive model to identify persons with GDM most likely to develop IGT postpartum.. · The final model had an AUC of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.85) and included eight clinical indicators.. · If validated, our model could help prioritize diabetes prevention efforts among persons with GDM..

HIV and COVID-19: Intersecting Epidemics With Many Unknowns.

As of July 2020, approximately 6 months into the pandemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whether people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH) are disproportionately affected remains an unanswered question. Thus far, risk of COVID-19 in people with and without HIV appears similar, but data are sometimes contradictory. Some uncertainty is due to the recency of the emergence of COVID-19 and sparsity of data; some is due to imprecision about what it means for HIV to be a "risk factor" for COVID-19. Forthcoming studies on the risk of COVID-19 to PLWH should differentiate between 1) the unadjusted, excess burden of disease among PLWH to inform surveillance efforts and 2) any excess risk of COVID-19 among PLWH due to biological effects of HIV, independent of comorbidities that confound rather than mediate this effect. PLWH bear a disproportionate burden of alcohol, other drug use, and mental health disorders, as well as other structural vulnerabilities, which might increase their risk of COVID-19. In addition to any direct effects of COVID-19 on the health of PLWH, we need to understand how physical distancing restrictions affect secondary health outcomes and the need for, accessibility of, and impact of alternative modalities of providing ongoing medical, mental health, and substance use treatment that comply with physical distancing restrictions (e.g., telemedicine).

Transportability From Randomized Trials to Clinical Care: On Initial HIV Treatment With Efavirenz and Suicidal Thoughts or Behaviors.

In an analysis of randomized trials, use of efavirenz for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was associated with increased suicidal thoughts/behaviors. However, analyses of observational data have found no evidence of increased risk. To assess whether population differences might explain this divergence, we transported the effect of efavirenz use from these trials to a specific target population. Using inverse odds weights and multiple imputation, we transported the effect of efavirenz on suicidal thoughts/behaviors in these randomized trials (participants were enrolled in 2001-2007) to a trials-eligible cohort of US adults initiating antiretroviral therapy while receiving HIV clinical care at medical centers between 1999 and 2015. Overall, 8,291 cohort participants and 3,949 trial participants were eligible. Prescription of antidepressants (19% vs. 13%) and injection drug history (16% vs. 10%) were more frequent in the cohort than in the trial participants. Compared with the effect in trials, the estimated hazard ratio for efavirenz on suicidal thoughts/behaviors was attenuated in our target population (trials: hazard ratio (HR) = 2.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2, 4.4); transported: HR = 1.8 (95% CI: 0.9, 4.4)), whereas the incidence rate difference was similar (trials: HR = 5.1 (95% CI: 1.6, 8.7); transported: HR = 5.4 (95% CI: -0.4, 11.4)). In our target population, there was greater than 20% attenuation of the hazard ratio estimate as compared with the trials-only estimate. Transporting results from trials to a target population is informative for addressing external validity.

Patient Transfers and Their Impact on Gaps in Clinical Care: Differences by Gender in a Large Cohort of Adults Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy in South Africa.

For people living with HIV (PLWH), patient transfers may affect engagement in care. We followed a cohort of PLWH in Cape Town, South Africa who tested positive for HIV in 2012-2013 from ART initiation in 2012-2016 through December 2016. Patient transfers were defined as moving from one healthcare facility to another on a different day, considering all healthcare visits and recorded HIV-visits only. We estimated incidence rates (IR) for transfers by time since ART initiation, overall and by gender, and associations between transfers and gaps of > 180 days in clinical care. Overall, 4,176 PLWH were followed for a median of 32 months, and 8% (HIV visits)-17% (all healthcare visits) of visits were patient transfers. Including all healthcare visits, transfers were highest through 3 months on ART (IR 20.2 transfers per 100 visits, 95% CI 19.2-21.2), but increased through 36 months on ART when only HIV visits were included (IR 9.7, 95% CI 8.8-10.8). Overall, women were more likely to transfer than men, and transfers were associated with gaps in care (IR ratio [IRR] 3.06 95% CI 2.83-3.32; HIV visits only). In this cohort, patient transfers were frequent, more common among women, and associated with gaps in care.

Risk Factors for Progression From Gestational Diabetes to Postpartum Type 2 Diabetes: A Review.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicates 6% to 8% of pregnancies and up to 50% of women with GDM progress to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) within 5 years postpartum. Clinicians have little guidance on which women are most at risk for DM progression or when evidence-based prevention strategies should be implemented in a woman's lifecycle. To help address this gap, the authors review identifiable determinants of progression from GDM to DM across the perinatal period, considering prepregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum periods. The authors categorize evidence by pathways of risk including genetic, metabolic, and behavioral factors that influence progression to DM among women with GDM.

Estimating retention in HIV care accounting for clinic transfers using electronic medical records: evidence from a large antiretroviral treatment programme in the Western Cape, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Estimates of retention in antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes may be biased if patients who transfer to healthcare clinics are misclassified as lost to follow-up (LTFU) at their original clinic. In a large cohort, we estimated retention in care accounting for patient transfers using medical records. METHODS: Using linked electronic medical records, we followed adults living with HIV (PLWH) in Cape Town, South Africa from ART initiation (2012-2016) through database closure at 36 months or 30 June 2016, whichever came first. Retention was defined as alive and with a healthcare visit in the 180 days between database closure and administrative censoring on 31 December 2016. Participants who died or did not have a healthcare visit in > 180 days were censored at their last healthcare visit. We estimated the cumulative incidence of retention using Kaplan-Meier methods considering (i) only records from a participant's ART initiation clinic (not accounting for transfers) and (ii) all records (accounting for transfers), over time and by gender. We estimated risk differences and bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals to quantify misclassification in retention estimates due to patient transfers. RESULTS: We included 3406 PLWH initiating ART. Retention through 36 months on ART rose from 45.4% (95% CI 43.6%, 47.2%) to 54.3% (95% CI 52.4%, 56.1%) after accounting for patient transfers. Overall, 8.9% (95% CI 8.1%, 9.7%) of participants were misclassified as LTFU due to patient transfers. CONCLUSIONS: Patient transfers can appreciably bias estimates of retention in HIV care. Electronic medical records can help quantify patient transfers and improve retention estimates.

CONTEXTE: Les estimations de la rétention dans les programmes de traitement antirétroviral (ART) peuvent être biaisées si les patients qui sont transférés dans des cliniques de soins de santé sont classés à tort comme perdus au suivi (PS) dans leur clinique d'origine. Dans une large cohorte, nous avons estimé la rétention dans les soins en tenant compte des transferts de patients à l'aide des dossiers médicaux. MÉTHODES: A l'aide de dossiers médicaux électroniques reliés entre eux, nous avons suivi des adultes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH) à Cape Town, en Afrique du Sud, depuis le début de l'ART (2012-2016) jusqu'à la clotûre de la base de données à 36 mois ou au 30 juin 2016, selon la première éventualité. La rétention a été définie comme étant en vie et avec une visite médicale dans les 180 jours entre la clôture de la base de données et recensement administrative le 31 décembre 2016. Les participants qui sont décédés ou qui n'ont pas eu de visite médicale dans un délai de plus de 180 jours ont été recensés lors de leur dernière visite médicale. Nous avons estimé l'incidence cumulative de la rétention en utilisant les méthodes de Kaplan-Meier en considérant: (i) uniquement les dossiers de la clinique d'initiation de l'ART d'un participant (sans tenir compte des transferts) et (ii) tous les dossiers (en tenant compte des transferts), au cours du temps et par sexe. Nous avons estimé les différences de risque et avons considéré des intervalles de confiance à 95% pour quantifier les erreurs de classification dans les estimations de rétention dues aux transferts de patients. RÉSULTAT: Nous avons inclus 3.406 PVVIH qui ont commencé un ART. La rétention sous ART est passée de 45,4% (IC 95%: 43,6-47,2) à 54,3% (IC 95%: 52,4-56,1) après avoir tenu compte des transferts de patients. Dans l'ensemble, 8,9% (IC 95%: 8,1-9,7) des participants ont été classés à tort dans la catégorie PS en raison des transferts de patients. CONCLUSIONS: Les transferts de patients peuvent biaiser sensiblement les estimations de la rétention dans les soins liés au VIH. Les dossiers médicaux électroniques peuvent aider à quantifier les transferts de patients et à améliorer les estimations de rétention.

Quantifying the HIV treatment cascade in a South African health sub-district by gender: retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the HIV care cascade in a Cape Town sub-district to understand rates of linkage to and engagement in HIV care. METHODS: We used routinely collected data to reconstruct the treatment cascade for 8382 infected individuals who tested HIV + in 2012/2013. We obtained data on patient gender, year of initial HIV-positive test, age at testing and initial CD4 cell count and defined five stages of the HIV care cascade. We quantified attrition across cascade stages. RESULTS: Two-thirds of the sample (5646) were women. Men were older at time of first testing (36.5 vs. 31.3 years) and had more advanced HIV disease at diagnosis (298 vs. 404 CD4 cells/µL for women). The median duration of follow-up was 818 days. Among women, 90.5% attended an initial HIV care visit, 54.6% became eligible for antiretroviral therapy under local guidelines during follow-up, 49.3% initiated ART and 45.6% achieved a therapeutic response. Among men, 88.0% attended an initial HIV care visit, 67.4% became ART eligible during follow-up, 48.0% initiated ART and 42.4% achieved a therapeutic response. Approximately 3% of women and 5% of men died during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to reconstruct the HIV treatment cascade using routinely collected data. In this setting, rates of engagement in care differ by gender in key stages of the cascade, with men faring worse than women at each cascade point. This highlights the need for interventions aimed at encouraging earlier testing, linkage, ART initiation and retention among men.

OBJECTIFS: Quantifier la cascade des soins du VIH dans un sous-district de Cape Town pour comprendre les taux de liaisons et d'engagement avec les soins du VIH. MÉTHODES: Nous avons utilisé des données collectées en routine pour reconstruire la cascade de traitement pour 8.382 personnes infectées, testées positives pour le VIH en 2012/13. Nous avons obtenu des données sur le sexe du patient, l'année du premier test positif pour le VIH, l'âge au moment de ce test et le nombre initial de cellules CD4, et avons défini cinq étapes de la cascade des soins du VIH. Nous avons quantifié l'attrition au long des étapes de la cascade. RÉSULTATS: Deux tiers de l'échantillon (5.646) étaient des femmes. Les hommes étaient plus âgés au moment du premier test (36,5 contre 31,3 ans) et avaient la maladie du VIH plus avancée au moment du diagnostic (298 contre 404 cellules CD4/µL pour les femmes). La durée médiane de suivi était de 818 jours. Parmi les femmes, 90,5% ont pris part à une première visite pour des soins du VIH, 54,6% sont devenues éligibles au traitement antirétroviral selon les directives locales au cours du suivi, 49,3% ont commencé une ART et 45,6% ont atteint une réponse thérapeutique. Chez les hommes, 88,0% ont pris part à une première visite pour les soins du VIH; 67,4% sont devenus éligibles à l'ART au cours du suivi, 48,0% ont commencé l'ART et 42,4% ont atteint une réponse thérapeutique. Environ 3% des femmes et 5% des hommes sont décédés au cours du suivi. CONCLUSIONS: Nous avons pu reconstruire la cascade de traitement du VIH en utilisant des données collectées en routine. Dans ce contexte, les taux d'engagement dans les soins diffèrent selon le sexe dans les étapes clés de la cascade, les hommes s'en tirant moins bien que les femmes à chaque point de la cascade. Cela met en évidence la nécessité d'interventions visant à encourager le dépistage précoce, la liaison, l'initiation de l'ART et la rétention chez les hommes.

Improving Monitoring of Engagement in HIV Care for Women in Option B+: A Pilot Test of Biometric Fingerprint Scanning in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Sustained engagement in HIV care is critical to the success of Option B+ for HIV-infected pregnant women. However, monitoring women's engagement in care across clinics and over time is challenging due to migration and clinic transfers. Improved strategies to identify and monitor women's engagement in HIV care across a network of clinics are needed, but have not been pilot tested. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of biometric fingerprint scanning to identify women and monitor HIV visit attendance among women in Option B+. Over a 3-month period, we enrolled HIV-infected pregnant women receiving care at two antenatal clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi and monitored their engagement in care using biometric fingerprint scanning and the standard-of-care electronic medical record (EMR) monitoring system. Biometric data was collected by trained research assistants, who uploaded and synced data across study sites daily using wireless internet. We collected data weekly on the biometric scanner performance, reliability, and usability. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of using biometric fingerprint scanning to record HIV visits during exit interviews with a sample of participants and healthcare workers and by comparing visit concordance between the biometric fingerprint scanning and EMR systems. We enrolled 314 HIV-infected pregnant women and 51 HCWs (n = 365 total participants). The majority of participants felt the biometric fingerprint scanning system was easy to use (64%), required no additional assistance (69%) and met their expectations (76%). No major issues with data security, privacy, or scanner functionality were reported by HIV-infected women or healthcare workers. Of the 542 HIV visits captured during the study period among women in Option B+, 80% were recorded in the biometric fingerprint system versus 51% in the EMR system (PR 1.57, 95% CI 1.43, 1.72, p-value < 0.05). Among HIV-infected pregnant women engaged in HIV care, biometric fingerprint scanning is a feasible and acceptable way to monitor HIV visits and may improve the ability to monitor women's engagement in HIV care over time and across clinics. Biometric fingerprint scanning should be scaled-up and evaluated as an implementation strategy to support sustained engagement in HIV care for women during the perinatal period.

Does HIV infection modify the relationship between pre-pregnancy body mass index and adverse birth outcomes?

BACKGROUND: South Africa faces dual epidemics of HIV and obesity; however, little research has explored whether HIV status influences associations between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and adverse birth outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and adverse birth outcomes, and if they differ by HIV status. METHODS: We followed HIV-uninfected and -infected pregnant women initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) from first antenatal visit through delivery. HIV-infected women initiated ART (tenofovir-emtricitabine/lamivudine-efavirenz) in pregnancy. Estimated pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m2 ) was categorised as underweight (<18.5), normal (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), and obese (≥30.0). We used modified Poisson regression to estimate risk ratios (RR) for associations between pre-pregnancy BMI and adverse birth outcomes and explored modification by HIV status. RESULTS: Among 1116 women (53% HIV-infected), 44% of HIV-uninfected women and 36% of HIV-infected women were classified as obese; 4% of women were underweight. Overall, 12% of infants were delivered preterm (<37 weeks), 10% small for gestational age (SGA, <10th percentile), and 9% large for gestational age (LGA, >90th percentile). Compared to HIV-uninfected women, HIV-infected women on ART had less LGA (5% vs 13%) but more SGA (12% vs 8%), and a similar proportion of preterm (13% vs 11%) infants. Pre-pregnancy BMI was not associated with preterm birth. Among HIV-uninfected women, obesity modestly increased the risk of LGA (RR 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82, 2.19), and underweight modestly elevated the risk of SGA (RR 1.66, 95% CI 0.79, 3.46). These associations were attenuated among HIV-infected women (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.44, 2.64 for LGA, and RR 1.34, 95% CI 0.49, 3.64 for SGA). CONCLUSIONS: In this urban African setting of high HIV prevalence, pre-pregnancy obesity was common and did not vary by HIV status. In HIV-uninfected women, obesity increased the risk of LGA and being underweight the risk of SGA, compared with among HIV-uninfected women.

"A way of escaping": a qualitative study exploring reasons for clinic transferring and its impact on engagement in care among women in Option B.

Clinic transfers among women in Option B+ are frequent, often undocumented, and may lead to suboptimal engagement in care and HIV outcomes. The reasons women move between HIV clinics are not well understood. We conducted four focus group discussions (FGD) among HIV-infected pregnant women in Option B+ and four FGDs and five in-depth interviews among healthcare workers (HCWs) at two large ART clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi. Mobility and fear of inadvertent HIV disclosure, particularly due to seeing neighbors or acquaintances at a clinic, were key drivers of transferring between HIV clinics. Women were aware of the need to obtain a formal transfer, but in practice this was often not feasible and led women to self-transfer clinics. Self-transferring to a new clinic frequently resulted to re-testing and re-initiating ART and concerns about disruptions in ART. Strategies to monitor women's engagement in HIV care without requiring a formal transfer are urgently needed.

Beyond mobile phones: exploring using technology to support sustained engagement in care for HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy.

Disengagement from HIV care has emerged as a challenge to the success of universal test and treat strategies for HIV-infected women. Technology may enhance efforts to monitor and support engagement in HIV care, but implementation barriers and facilitators need to be evaluated. We conducted a mixed-method study among HIV-infected, pregnant women and healthcare workers (HCWs) in Malawi to evaluate barriers and facilitators to three technologies to support monitoring HIV care: (1) text messaging, (2) SIM card scanning and (3) biometric fingerprint scanning. We included 123 HIV-infected, pregnant women and 85 HCWs in a survey, 8 focus group discussions and 5 in-depth interviews. Biometric fingerprint scanning emerged as the preferred strategy to monitor engagement in HIV care. Among HCWs, 70% felt biometrics were very feasible, while 48% thought text messaging and SIM card scanning were feasible. Nearly three quarters (72%) of surveyed women reported they would be very comfortable using biometrics to monitor HIV appointments. Barriers to using text messaging and SIM card scanning included low phone ownership (35%), illiteracy concerns, and frequent selling or changing of mobile phones. Future work is needed to explore the feasibly of implementing biometric fingerprint scanning or other technologies to monitor engagement in HIV care.

Postpartum obesity and weight gain among human immunodeficiency virus-infected and human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected women in South Africa.

In South Africa, up to 40% of pregnant women are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 30-45% are obese. However, little is known about the dual burden of HIV and obesity in the postpartum period. In a cohort of HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected pregnant women initiating antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town, South Africa, we examined maternal anthropometry (weight and body mass index [BMI]) from 6 weeks through 12 months postpartum. Using multinomial logistic regression, we estimated associations between baseline sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural, and HIV factors and being overweight-obese I (BMI 25 to <35), or obese II-III (BMI >35), compared with being underweight or normal weight (BMI <25), at 12 months postpartum. Among 877 women, we estimated that 43% of HIV-infected women and 51% of HIV-uninfected women were obese I-III at enrollment into antenatal care, and 51% of women were obese I-III by 12 months postpartum. On average, both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women gained, rather than lost, weight between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum, but HIV-uninfected women gained more weight (3.3 kg vs. 1.7 kg). Women who were obese I-III pre-pregnancy were more likely to gain weight postpartum. In multivariable analyses, HIV-infection status, being married/cohabitating, higher gravidity, and high blood pressure were independently associated with being obese II-III at 12 months postpartum. Obesity during pregnancy is a growing public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. Additional research to understand how obesity and HIV infection affect maternal and child health outcomes is urgently needed.