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

  • HIV and Technology (J Simoni and K Horvath, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current HIV/AIDS Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Global Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, and Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Grace John-Stewart

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  1. Grace John-Stewart
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Correspondence to Grace John-Stewart.

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Grace John-Stewart declares that she has no competing interests.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on HIV and Technology

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John-Stewart, G. eHealth and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 15, 350–357 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-018-0408-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-018-0408-x

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