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Current HIV/AIDS Reports
Published in: Current HIV/AIDS Reports 4/2018

01-08-2018 | HIV and Technology (J Simoni and K Horvath, Section Editors)

eHealth and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

Author: Grace John-Stewart

Published in: Current HIV/AIDS Reports | Issue 4/2018

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this paper is to describe areas in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs that could benefit from ehealth and to summarize current evidence of ehealth effectiveness in PMTCT.

Recent Findings

PMTCT programs require maternal retention, adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART), and return for infant diagnosis of HIV. eHealth systems for PMTCT could either be integrated within MCH ehealth systems or within HIV adherence ehealth systems. PMTCT ehealth messages need to balance maternal concerns about pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care with need for clinic retention and ART adherence for PMTCT. Health approaches currently being assessed for effects on PMTCT outcomes include SMS, phone reminders, and integration of laboratory results and health worker reminders. Randomized trials are ongoing to determine effect of PMTCT ehealth interventions on retention, adherence, viral suppression, and early infant diagnosis (EID). There is evidence that ehealth for PMTCT improves early retention and EID, while data on long-term outcomes are accruing.

Summary

PMTCT ehealth interventions may be useful to enhance maternal retention and ART adherence and decrease risk of infant HIV infection. Ongoing clinical trials will be important to determine effectiveness of mhealth approaches in improving PMTCT outcomes.
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Metadata
Title
eHealth and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV
Author
Grace John-Stewart
Publication date
01-08-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current HIV/AIDS Reports / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 1548-3568
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3576
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-018-0408-x

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