ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD HIV TRANSMISSION IN KENYA

Abstract

Access to the most effective treatments is not universal and treatment coverage for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is still low in many countries, including Kenya (WHO, 2010a). To improve uptake of PMTCT to reduce perinatal HIV transmission the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new treatment guidelines for use among pregnant HIV+ women in 2010 (WHO, 2010b). In the same year, Kenya's National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) established revised guidelines for PMTCT. Despite expanded treatment guidelines it is unclear if women meeting the minimum requirements for treatment and ARV prophylaxis during pregnancy and postpartum follow-up are receiving treatment according to WHO and NASCOP recommendations. This study will examine the antenatal treatment regimens of HIV-infected women reporting to four hospitals in Kenya for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV services. It will assess the extent to which PMTCT regimens of these HIV+ mothers reflect the revised PMTCT treatment guidelines, and if children born to mothers on less efficacious treatment regimes have higher HIV positivity rates.