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Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in Karongi District, Rwanda: A Success Story
Mwumvaneza, Mutagoma; Muhayimana, Theogene & Ndayisaba, Jonas
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission
(PMTCT) is a key strategy in programs aiming to prevent HIV
transmission from mother to child. Rwanda adopted this program since
2010 and scaled it up in all public health facilities including health
centers (HCs). Over all, Karongi District hospitals and its health centers
recorded consistent decreases of HIV transmission rates from mothers to
children. This article assesses and summarizes Karongi’s success story.
METHODS: Data were abstracted from routine Health Management
Information System (HMIS) for the period between July 2010 to June
2019. The target population was women attending PMTCT services.
Data analyses we preformed using excel and proportions were presented.
The outcome of interest was the proportion of infected children born to
HIV-positive mothers.
RESULTS: A total of 92,366 pregnant women attended PMTCT services
in Karongi District, from 2010-2019. A proportion of 83.5% of them
were accompanied by their husbands for PMTCT services. The HIV
prevalence among pregnant women attending ANC services decreased
from 2.7% in 2010 to 0.3% in 2019; the rate among sub-districts varied
between 0.011% in 2010 and 0.003% in 2019. Kibuye sub-district
recorded the highest number of HIV-positive women from 2010 to 2019
(460). During labor, in the study period, 45,118 pregnant women attended
maternity services in Karongi District; among them 113 (0.25%) had
HIV-positive tests. One HIV transmission was registered in 2019. From
2010, among exposed infants, 22 have been HIV-infected through MTCT
at 8 weeks or 18 months. The transmission rate in 2019 (a single case),
for the considered period, was 0.12%.
CONCLUSION: PMTCT succeeded in Karongi District. This success
of elimination of HIV transmission from mother-to-child should be
sustained. In this context, HIV-free generation can be expected.
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