TITLE:
Early infant diagnosis of HIV in India—Early results and sero-positivity determinants
AUTHORS:
Urvish Joshi, Umesh Oza, Anand Solanki, Sheetal Vyas, Heena Modi
KEYWORDS:
PMTCT; Early-Infant-Diagnosis (EID); Dried-Blood-Spot (DBS); HIV Sero-Positivity Determinants; Vertical Transmission
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.2 No.3,
August
7,
2012
ABSTRACT: Introduction: PMTCT under NACP-III cover ex-posed children born to sero-positive mothers. Baby’s sero-status could be confirmed only at 18 months. Under EID, by DBS and/or WB collection, DNA-PCR can be performed earlier, with subsequent ART-linkage and 18-months-con- firmation. In Ahmedabad, with 55,000 annual pre- gnancy-HIV-testing, sero-prevalence is 0.27%. Methodology: Entry-points in EID are at 6 weeks, 6 months or 12 months. Cohort of 213 exposed children since EID roll-out (June 2010-December 2011) at all tertiary care hospitals under Ahme-dabad Municipal Corporation was assessed for sero-positivity-prevalence, DBS validity and assessment of baby’s sero-status-determinants. De-identified, secondary data were captured under routine public-health-program. Necessary permissions taken. Results: 144 HIV sero-positive deliveries took place. 213 exposed children were enrolled in EID. Cumulatively, 18 (8.45%) were tested positive at all entry-points. Out of sero-positives confirmed at 18 months, 60% children’s mothers were detected either in second or third trimester. In 40%, mothers remained undiagnosed intra-partum. Mothers were not on ART intra-partum in 80% (RR 1.8). Peri-partum ARV prophylaxis-single-dose-Nevirapine (sdNVP) was not given in 60%. [RR 18, CI 3.69 to 87.70 at 95% (p