Integration of postpartum healthcare services for HIV-infected women and their infants in South Africa: A randomised controlled trial

We examined the impact of integrating postpartum ART for HIV+ mothers alongside infant follow-up within maternal and child health (MCH) services in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods and findingsWe conducted a randomised trial among HIV+ postpartum women aged ≥18 years who initiated ART during pregnancy in the local antenatal care clinic and were breastfeeding when screened before 6 weeks postpartum. We compared an integrated postnatal service among mothers and their infants (the MCH-ART intervention) to the local standard of care (control)—immediate postnatal referral of HIV+ women on ART to general adult ART services and their infants to separate routine infant follow-up. Evaluation data were collected through medical records and trial measurement visits scheduled and located separately from healthcare services involved in either arm. The pri mary trial outcome was a composite endpoint of women’s retention in ART care and viral suppression (VS) (viral load
Source: PLoS Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Source Type: research