Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is the leading cause of pediatric AIDS; however, mechanisms by which HIV compromises pregnancy are not understood. CD4+CD25+ T-regulatory (Treg) cells play a role in pregnancy maintenance. RNA from early and late gestation placentas and fetuses from FIV-infected and control cats were probed for expression of FIV gag and Treg markers CD25, FOXP3, and CTLA4, using real time reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR. High rates of vertical transmission and reproductive failure were detected in early and late pregnancy. In control animals, both FOXP3 and CTLA4 expression decreased with gestational stage, indicating a natural decline in Tregs. Expression of FOXP3 and CTLA4 was decreased at early gestation in FIV-infected queens and a trend toward decreased expression of CD25, FOXP3, and CTLA4 in placentas from FIV-infected queens producing non-viable pregnancies was observed as well. Our results suggest that FIV infection may alter placental Treg function and adversely affect pregnancy outcome.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains the most prevalent source of pediatric HIV infection. The prevalence of HIV is especially high among South African women of reproductive age and transmission of HIV from mothers to children is a significant concern. This study investigated the contributing factors that increase the MTCT of HIV in Seshego Zone Clinics.The study adopted a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory design, wherein eighteen semi structured interviews were conducted among female nurses who were purposively sampled from four clinics in Seshego. Clinics ethical considerations were ensured throughout the study. The collected data were analyzed using Teschs‟ method of data analysis and presented in themes and subthemes. All measures of trustworthiness of findings were ensured. The study revealed that poor socio economic status, traditional beliefs, religious and lack of knowledge among patients, were major contributory factors to the increase in MTCT of HIV. However, the study indicated that the nurses‟ knowledge about MTCT and HIV is high. Therefore, the study concluded that the patient related the contributing factors further high prevalence of MTCTC of HIV. The study therefore recommended the community health awareness campaigns be implemented to empower women to cast away their beliefs to promote PMTCT. / NRF

This study is a Minor Field Study and is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). At the end of 2016 there were 1.4 million people living with HIV in Tanzania; That same year approximately 55.000 people were newly infected with the disease. The most frequent route of infection is through mother to child transmission (MTCT). The risk of transmission can be reduced with the help of medication and other strategies, called prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Tanzania is working actively with these prevention programs, however the rates of MTCT still remains high in the country. Due to their profession, nurses play a significant role in these prevention programs. They have an important role in educating the patients and encouraging a healthier lifestyle. Therefore, it is important to investigate nurses' experiences of working with PMTCT of HIV to gain knowledge and valuable information of their experiences. The aim of the study is to investigate local nurses' experiences of working with PMTCT of HIV in the Rufiji area in Tanzania. The data of the study have been collected through individual interviews with six nurses using a semi-structured guide with open questions. The nurses' experiences of working with PMTCT of HIV covers three key areas. First, they work actively with motivating the mothers in several significant areas, such as motivating the mothers to take a voluntary HIV-test and bringing their partners to undertake the HIV-test. Second, the nurses described the importance of counseling the mothers and their partners. One part in counseling is to get the mother's mind ready to receive the result of the HIV-test. Third, the nurses experienced stigma as something they all had to be aware of and meet in their everyday work life. Stigma from the community and relatives is one reason for poor adherence from the mothers to the PMTCT program.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Although great strides have been made in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) in Namibia, the universal target of less than 5% by 2015 has not yet been achieved. In an effort to scale-up services in the programme, a comprehensive family centred approach which broadens HIV prevention activities and considers HIV as a family disease was instituted. However its success has been affected by low male partner participation in the programme. Study aim: To investigate factors influencing male partner involvement in MTCT-plus programme in Gobabis District, Omaheke Region, Namibia. Study design and data collection: This was a cross sectional descriptive study that wasconducted using a qualitative research methodology. Data was generated through focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews. Four same sex FGDs were conducted with men and pregnant women. The study participants were HIV positive pregnant women and HIV positive women in their postnatal period purposefully selected from the PMTCT clients. A few male participants were partners of the female participants and other men conveniently sampled from the community. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted to gather information from key informants who were programme managers and midwives. Thematic analysis was used for the data analysis. Results: Men were generally knowledgeable and appreciated the importance of participating in the MTCT-plus programme but the majority of them did not participate. They cited several barriers to actively supporting their partners. Men‘s participation in the MTCT-plus programme was affected by lack of trust in the health workers and cultural practices that shift the role of taking care of their partners to the biological parents. The other barriers included HIV related stigma, unfriendly environment at the antenatal care clinics, time and work related constraints, having many sexual partners and gender and power imbalances in relationships that affect patterns of communication on HIV related matters. Discussion: Participation in the MTCT-plus programme is well supported by men. However, few men put this into practice because of complexities surrounding their specific role in women reproductive health issues, as well as cultural practices and health facilities organizational structures that preclude men from participation in the MTCT-plus programme. Given the positive attitude by men towards participation in this programme, creating a male friendly space within the MTCT-plus programme and empowering men to participate in them should be prioritized for the programme to achieve its goals.

No description available.

Background The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a blood-borne infection affecting around 2 billion people at any given time and is commonly transmitted through Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT). Preventative measures include vaccinations, particularly the timely Birth Dose (TBD) given within 24 hours of birth. Timing is crucial for the efficacy of the TBD, and is influenced by various factors. São Tomé and Príncipe is one of seven sub-Saharan African countries with a TBD policy. This study aims to observe the different proportions of children receiving adequate or inadequate vaccinations against HBV, as well as to analyse the risk factors that may lead to inadequate vaccination. Methods Secondary data from the São Tomé and Príncipe Demographic Health Survey from 2008-2009 was analysed in this study. Dose delays for all children and those at risk were described. An associative analysis looked at the potential risk factors for inadequate TBD vaccination. Results A high coverage rate for vaccinations was found (>85%), however, the majority were delayed, with only 1% and 4% on time, and mean a TBD administration of 2(SD±2) months after birth, in all children, versus children at risk. Children born to mothers with positive HBV status and low wealth were significantly more likely to receive the TBD on time. Conclusion The majority of vaccinations, including the TBD were inadequately administered, denoting a concern of transmission to children born at risk. Additionally, socioeconomic factors were found to be factors influencing the provision of the TBD

Magister Curationis - MCur / The pandemic of HIV is the most severe health challenge affecting children across the world and it is estimated that more than 90% of all HIV infections in children result from Mother to Child Transmissions (MTCT). The global target of <2% MTCT risk of HIV has still not been achieved despite the duration of the implementation of the programme and its great progress. The prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programme is a programme developed to enable health care practitioners to provide essential care to mothers in order to prevent the transmission of the virus to their infants.

Chaque année 330 000 (dont 300 000 en Afrique) nouvelles infections à VIH surviennent chez les moins de quinze ans – majoritairement par un mécanisme de transmission verticale d’une mère infectée à son enfant. Pourtant, des interventions efficaces pour réduire la transmission mère-enfant (TME) existent mais ne sont pas toujours disponibles en pratique de routine pour les femmes qui en ont besoin. L’agenda international en cours vise une élimination de l’infection pédiatrique de VIH – et le maintien des mères en vie – à l’horizon 2015. A la lumière de la crise économique mondiale, il apparait opportun de pouvoir juger du montant de ressources nécessaires à la réalisation de cet objectif. Ce travail de thèse dresse le panorama du mode de délivrance des interventions pour la prévention de la TME (PTME) et de la prise en charge des enfants infectés par le VIH dans cinq pays à ressources limitées que sont la Chine, la Côte d’Ivoire, la Namibie, le Rwanda et l’Ukraine. Il apporte une estimation de leur coût et renseigne sur leur efficacité et leur caractère abordable. En outre, une estimation du coût de l’implémentation de potentiels scénarios de passage à échelle des interventions est apportée ; la mesure du nombre de cas (et de décès) non évités sur la période de projection permet de se rendre compte du coût de l’inaction. Enfin, sont discutés deux obstacles majeurs à la diffusion des services de PTME que sont le contexte politique ambiant et l’organisation de l’offre de soins (contrainte en ressources humaines qualifiées notamment). / A decade into the implementation of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programs, countries are making impressive progress towards fulfilling global commitments and achieving global goals. However, achieving a generation free from HIV will entail sustained effort and commitment in the coming years and estimating the cost of this work is fundamental. In light of the global economic downturn, reliable and up-to-date information on the costs of the dedicated services is needed to estimate the amount of additional resources required to scale up those services within the context of the Millennium Development Goals, and to assist resource-limited countries, external funders and multilateral agencies in planning, identify cost drivers and areas of potential savings. This work pursued the aims (1) to produce a reliable estimation of the costs associated with PMTCT services in five low- and middle-income countries, and (2) to ascertain the range and median unit costs needed for scaling up these services across a prevention, treatment and care continuum. Countries were selected given three key criteria related to their economic level and health spending, the national HIV epidemic status and typology, and the coverage of their maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) and PMTCT programs. Data were collected in Cote d’Ivoire, China, Namibia, Rwanda, and Ukraine using a health-care provider perspective from October 2009 to April 2010. In-country samples were designed to reflect publicly funded MNCH facilities that were delivering a define range of PMTCT and pediatric HIV services. The package includes HIV testing and counseling, male partner testing, CD4 testing, antiretroviral prophylaxis provision, community-based activities, HIV-exposed infant prophylaxis, and 2-year post-partum family planning. Additional information on prices and volume of services was collected from national government bodies, international donor partners, and non-governmental organizations. Cost data were then analyzed using a bottom-up approach of "micro-costing" where costs are calculated by identifying the actual resources used for each patient. Primary outcomes are costs per specific end-users and nation-wide total program costs, subdivided by major cost categories. After that, we simulated the expected costs over time according to a scale-up analysis estimating the costs needed to increase service coverage under various scenarios of coverage and antiretroviral protocols. These scenarios are incremental in their content: each subsequent scenario adds components and costs to the previous one. Future costs are discounted at a 3% rate. The affordability of each scenario (compared to the previous one) was concomitantly examined through the generation of incremental cost effectiveness ratios. The cost of inaction, measured in both terms of cases non-averted and deaths non-avoided throughout the scaling-up period, was ultimately assessed.

Background: Non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner threatens to reverse gains made in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in resource limited settings. Determining the association between non-disclosure and infant HIV acquisition is important to justify focussing on disclosure as a strategy in PMTCT programmes. Objective: To determine the association between non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Methods: Using a matched case-control design, we compared 34 HIV positive infants to 146 HIV negative infants and evaluated whether the mothers had disclosed their HIV status to their partner. Results: Non-disclosure was more frequent among cases (overall, 16.7%; cases, 52.8%; controls 7.6%), p<0.001 and significantly associated with MTCT (aOR 8.9 (3.0-26.3); p<0.0001), with male partner involvement partially mediating the effect of non-disclosure on MTCT. Conclusions: There is a need for PMTCT programs to focus on strategies to improve male partner involvement and partner disclosure without compromising the woman’s safety. / Health Studies / M. (Public Health)

Thesis (MScMedSc))--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite the availability of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination for over three decades, this infection remains a major public health problem. Whilst the WHO recommends giving a birth dose of the vaccine, in South Africa, routine infant HBV vaccination commences at six weeks of age. This schedule is based on data from the pre-HIV era which showed transmission occurred via the horizontal, rather than the vertical route. In the era of HIV however, maternal HIV co-infection may release HBV from immune control, resulting in higher HBV loads and increasing the risk of vertical transmission. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and character of HBV infection in HIV-exposed infected and uninfected infants. Residual plasma samples from routine HIV nucleic acid testing of 1000 HIV-exposed infants aged between 0 and 18 months from the Western Cape were tested. Samples were tested for HBsAg by ELISA (Murex HBsAg Version 3) and confirmed by neutralisation. HBV DNA was quantified using an in-house real-time PCR assay. Infants with HBsAg positive samples were followed up and a blood sample was collected from mother and child. Those HBsAg positive samples were tested for HBeAg/antiHBe (Diasorin) and HBsAg negative samples were tested for antiHBs. HBV DNA was quantified. The surface gene was sequenced and the HBV genotype determined by phylogenetic analysis using HepSEQ (www.hepseq.org.uk). Whole genome sequencing was also performed. Of 1000 samples tested, four samples were positive for HBsAg and/or HBV DNA, indicating a prevalence of HBV transmission of 0.4%. At follow-up, two of three infected infants were positive for HBsAg, with HBV viral loads of greater than 108 IU/ml. The third infant was found to have cleared his infection and the fourth child was lost to follow up. These infected infants had all received HBV vaccination. All four mothers were HBeAg positive. Sequencing analysis showed the HBV strains from the two infants and four mothers belonged to subgenotype A1. The two mother-child paired sequences were identical. The data from this study shows that vertical transmission of HBV infection in HIV-exposed infants from the Western Cape is occurring, despite vaccination. Data from the Western Cape, showing an HBV prevalence of 3.4% in HIV-infected pregnant women, and those presented here suggest a vertical transmission rate of HBV of 12%. This is despite the widespread use of tenofovir and lamivudine in HIV-infected women with low CD4 counts. This study provides data supporting calls to bring HBV vaccination closer to the time of birth. Further work is urgently needed to confirm these findings and to determine the rates of transmission in HIV-unexposed infants. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ten spyte van die beskikbaarheid van die Hepatitis B virus (HBV) inenting vir meer as drie dekades, hierdie infeksie bly 'n groot openbare gesondheid probleem. Terwyl die WGO aan beveel dat'n geboorte dosis van die entstof, in Suid-Afrika, roetine baba HBV inenting op die ouderdom van ses weke gegee word. Hierdie skedule is gebaseer op data van die pre-MIV era wat getoon het dat die oordrag plaasgevind het via die horisontale, eerder as die vertikale roete. In die era van MIV egter, moeder MIV ko-infeksie kan HBV vrylaat van immuun beheer, wat lei in hoër HBV vlakke en die verhoging van die risiko van vertikale oordrag. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die voorkoms en karakter van die HBV infeksie in MIV-besmette en onbesmette babas te bepaal. Residuele plasma monsters van roetine-MIV-nukleïensuur toetse van 'n 1000 MIV-blootgestelde babas tussen die ouderdomme van 0 en 18 maande van die Wes-Kaap was getoets. Monsters was getoets vir HBsAg deur ELISA (Murex HBsAg Version 3) en bevestig deur neutralisering. HBV DNA is gekwantifiseer deur gebruik te maak van 'n in-huis real-time PCR assay. Babas met HBsAg positiewe monsters was opgevolg en 'n bloedmonster is versamel van moeder en kind. Die HBsAg positiewe monsters was getoets vir HBeAg/antiHBe (Diasorin) en HBsAg negatiewe monsters was getoets vir antiHBs. HBV DNA was gekwantifiseer. Die oppervlak gene volgorde en genotipes was bepaal deur filogenetiese analise met behulp van HepSEQ (www.hepseq.org.uk). Die hele genoom-volgordebepaling was ook uitgevoer. Van die 1000 monsters wat getoets was, was vier monsters positief vir HBsAg en of HBV DNA, dit dui op 'n voorkoms van HBV oordrag van 0.4%. By op volg, twee van die drie besmette babas was positief vir HBsAg, met HBV virale vlakke van groter as 108 IE/ml. Die derde baba was gevind dat sy infeksie opgeklaar het en die vierde kind was verlore as gevolg van op volg. Hierdie besmette babas het almal HBV inenting ontvang. Al vier moeders was HBeAg positief. Volgordebepaling analise het getoon die HBV stamme van die twee babas en vier moeders behoort aan subgenotype A1. Die twee moeder-kind gepaarde rye was homoloë. Die data van hierdie studie toon dat die vertikale oordrag van HBV infeksie in MIV-blootgestelde babas van die Wes-Kaap vind plaas, ten spyte van inenting. Data van die Wes-Kaap, wat 'n HBV voorkoms van 3.4% in MIV-besmette swanger vroue, en dié wat hier aangebied is dui op 'n vertikale oordrag koers van 12% van die HBV. Dit is ten spyte van die wydverspreide gebruik van tenofovir en lamivudine in MIV-geïnfekteerde vroue met 'n lae CD4-telling. Hierdie studie bied data wat ondersteunende oproepe van HBV inenting nader aan die tyd van die geboorte bring. Verdere werk is dringend nodig om die bevindinge te bevestig en die pryse van die oordrag in MIV-blootgestelde babas te bepaal. / National Health Laboratory Service Research Trust / Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF) / Harry Crossley Foundation / Stellenbosch University