Brief Report

Intrapartum human immunodeficiency virus transmission rate in a central hospital in the Western Cape province after universal antiretroviral therapy roll-out

Tian A. van der Merwe, Gert U. van Zyl, Carl J. Lombard, Gerhard B. Theron
Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases | Vol 35, No 1 | a192 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v35i1.192 | © 2020 Tian A. van der Merwe, Gert U. van Zyl, Carl J. Lombard, Gerhard B. Theron | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 19 February 2020 | Published: 03 December 2020

About the author(s)

Tian A. van der Merwe, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Gert U. van Zyl, Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Virology, South Africa
Carl J. Lombard, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Gerhard B. Theron, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

The national human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) mother-to-child transmission rate at 6–10 weeks post-partum was 0.9% in 2016. There is a paucity of data about the intrapartum transmission rate after lifelong antiretroviral therapy was implemented in 2015. We assessed all pregnant women living with HIV who delivered at Tygerberg Hospital in 2017. Positive polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) at birth indicated an in utero transmission rate of 0.8%. One infant with a negative PCR at birth tested positive at 6–10 weeks. The intrapartum transmission rate was low (0.08%). About 25% of infants were lost to follow-up after birth.

Keywords

human immunodeficiency virus; HIV; mothers; birth; prevention of mother-to-child transmission; PMTCT; intrapartum.

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