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Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on early infant diagnosis of HIV in Cape Town, South Africa.
van Vollenhoven, Hendrike; Kalk, Emma; Kroon, Stuart M; Maseko, Tafadzwa; Phelanyane, Florence; Euvrard, Jonathan; Fourie, Lezanne; le Roux, Nicolene; Nongena, Phumza.
Afiliação
  • van Vollenhoven H; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Kalk E; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Kroon SM; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Maseko T; Family Medicine and Population Health (FAMPOP), Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Phelanyane F; Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Euvrard J; Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Fourie L; Department of Neonatology, Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • le Roux N; HIV/AIDS, STI's and Tuberculosis Directorate (HAST), New Somerset Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Nongena P; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
South Afr J HIV Med ; 25(1): 1542, 2024.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38628908
ABSTRACT

Background:

In South Africa, infants who are HIV-exposed are tested for HIV at birth and 10 weeks of age. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions resulted in reduced access to healthcare services and uncertain impact on early infant HIV testing.

Objectives:

To describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on early infant HIV testing and diagnosis in Cape Town, South Africa.

Method:

This retrospective cohort study compares HIV-exposed infants born during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (2020) to those born in the same period the year before (2019). Laboratory and other data were abstracted from the Provincial Health Data Centre.

Results:

A total of 2888 infants were included 1474 born in 2020 and 1413 in 2019. Compared to 2019, there was an increase in the 10-week HIV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) uptake in 2020 (71% vs. 60%, P < 0.001). There was also an increase in the proportion of infants who demised without 10-week testing or were lost to follow-up in 2020 compared to 2019 (8% vs. 5%, P = 0.017). Differences detected in birth HIV PCR positivity rates between the two groups (1.1% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.17) did not reach statistical significance; however, a significant increase in vertical transmission of HIV by 10 weeks old was found in the 2020 cohort (1.2% vs. 0.5%. P = 0.046).

Conclusion:

Vertical transmission of HIV at 10 weeks increased in the Cape Town Metropolitan during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. There was also an increase in the proportion of deaths without testing by 10 weeks in the 2020 group.
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Texto completo: 1 Base de dados: MEDLINE Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Base de dados: MEDLINE Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article