BACKGROUND: Maternal electronic gatekeeping (eGK) codes for HIV viral load (VL) testing of pregnant and breastfeeding women were developed to permit increased frequency of maternal HIV VL testing without automated gatekeeping cancellation, and to enable virological surveillance. OBJECTIVES: This study describes the national uptake of maternal eGK codes and VL suppression (VLS) rates disaggregated by age during antenatal, delivery and postnatal periods in South Africa during 2022. METHOD: HIV VL tests associated with C#PMTCT (used for antenatal and postnatal testing) and C#DELIVERY (used at delivery) eGK codes between 01 January and 31 December 2022, were extracted from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases Data Warehouse. Uptake of eGK codes was calculated using indicators from the District Health Information System as denominators while HIV VLS rates (< 1000 copies/mL) were calculated as monthly and annual percentages. RESULTS: Overall, national maternal eGK code uptake was 41.8%, 24.5% and 0.12% for the antenatal, delivery and postnatal periods, respectively. The monthly antenatal eGK uptake increased from 27.5% to 58.5% while delivery uptake increased from 17.3% to 30.0%. The overall annual maternal HIV VLS rate was 86.7% antenatally and 87.2% during delivery. The monthly average HIV VLS for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) was 76.1% antenatally and 79.6% during delivery. CONCLUSION: Although overall national uptake of maternal HIV VL eGK codes was low, antenatal and delivery uptake improved over time, thereby facilitating use of eGK codes for programmatic monitoring of maternal VLS rates for the first time. Quality of care among pregnant AGYW requires urgent attention.

Indeterminate HIV PCR results represent missed diagnostic opportunities within South Africa's early infant diagnosis programme. These results not only delay diagnosis and appropriate management but are also a source of confusion and apprehension amongst clinicians and caregivers. We describe the extent of indeterminate HIV PCR results within South Africa's early infant diagnosis programme and provide recommendations for the management of these cases, both in terms of laboratory practice and the clinical care of the infants.

In January 2015, the South African National Department of Health released new consolidated guidelines for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) PMTCT Option B+. Implementing these guidelines should make it possible to eliminate mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and improve long-term maternal and infant outcomes. The present article summarises the key recommendations of the 2015 guidelines and highlights current gaps that hinder optimal implementation; these include late antenatal booking (as a result of poor staff attitudes towards 'early bookers' and foreigners, unsuitable clinic hours, lack of transport to facilities, quota systems being applied to antenatal clients and clinic staff shortages); poor compliance with rapid HIV testing protocols; weak referral systems with inadequate follow-up; inadequate numbers of laboratory staff to handle HIV-related monitoring procedures and return of results to the correct facility; and inadequate supply chain management, leading to interrupted supplies of antiretroviral drugs. Additionally, recommendations are proposed on how to address these gaps. There is a need to evaluate the implementation of the 2015 guidelines and proactively communicate with ground-level implementers to identify operational bottlenecks, test solutions to these bottlenecks, and develop realistic implementation plans.

PROBLEM: The World Health Organization has produced clear guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, ensuring that all PMTCT programme components are implemented to a high quality in all facilities presents challenges. APPROACH: Although South Africa initiated its PMTCT programme in 2002, later than most other countries, political support has increased since 2008. Operational research has received more attention and objective data have been used more effectively. LOCAL SETTING: In 2010, around 30% of all pregnant women in South Africa were HIV-positive and half of all deaths in children younger than 5 years were associated with the virus. RELEVANT CHANGES: Between 2008 and 2011, the estimated proportion of HIV-exposed infants younger than 2 months who underwent routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to detect early HIV transmission increased from 36.6% to 70.4%. The estimated HIV transmission rate decreased from 9.6% to 2.8%. Population-based surveys in 2010 and 2011 reported transmission rates of 3.5% and 2.7%, respectively. LESSONS LEARNT: Critical actions for improving programme outcomes included: ensuring rapid implementation of changes in PMTCT policy at the field level through training and guideline dissemination; ensuring good coordination with technical partners, such as international health agencies and international and local nongovernmental organizations; and making use of data and indicators on all aspects of the PMTCT programme. Enabling health-care staff at primary care facilities to initiate antiretroviral therapy and expanding laboratory services for measuring CD4+ T-cell counts and for PCR testing were also helpful.

SITUACIÓN: La Organización Mundial de la Salud ha presentado unas directrices claras para la prevención de la transmisión del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) de la madre al niño. No obstante, habrá que superar algunos desafios para asegurar la puesta en marcha de todos los elementos del programa de prevención a fin de alcanzar un nivel de calidad elevado en todas las instalaciones. ENFOQUE: Aunque Sudáfrica inició su programa de prevención en el ano 2002, más tarde que la mayoria de los paises, el apoyo politico ha aumentado desde 2008. Se ha prestado más atención a las investigaciones operativas y los datos objetivos se han utilizado con mayor eficacia. MARCO REGIONAL: En 2010, alrededor del 30% de las mujeres embarazadas en Sudáfrica eran seropositivas, y la mitad de todas las muertes en niños menores de cinco anos estuvieron asociadas al virus. CAMBIOS IMPORTANTES: Entre los anos 2008 y 2011, la proporción estimada de niños menores de dos meses expuestos al VIH que se sometió a las pruebas rutinarias de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa aumentó del 36,6% al 70,4%, y la tasa estimada de transmisión del VIH se redujo del 9,6% al 2,8%. Las encuestas de población de los anos 2010 y 2011 reflejaron unas tasas de transmisión del 3,5% y el 2,7%, respectivamente LECCIONES APRENDIDAS: Las actividades fundamentales para mejorar los resultados del programa incluyeron: garantizar la implementación rápida de los cambios en la polÃtica de prevención de la transmisión a nivel de campo mediante cursos formativos y la difusión de las directrices; garantizar una coordinación adecuada entre los socios técnicos, tales como las agencias sanitarias internacionales y las ONG locales e internacionales; y utilizar los datos e indicadores acerca de todos los aspectos del programa de prevención de la transmisión del VIH de la madre al niño. También resultó muy útil permitir al personal sanitario de los centros de atención primaria iniciar terapias antirretrovirales y ampliar los servicios de laboratorio para realizar los recuentos de linfocitos T CD4+ y las pruebas de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa.

PROBLÈME: L'Organisation mondiale de la Santé a élaboré des lignes directrices claires pour la prévention de la transmission mère-enfant (PTME) du virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH). S'assurer que tous les éléments du programme de PTME soient mis en œuvre de manière qualitative dans tous les établissements présente cependant des défis. APPROCHE: Bien que l'Afrique du Sud ait lancé son programme de PTME en 2002, plus tard que la plupart des autres pays, le soutien politique a augmenté depuis 2008. La recherche opérationnelle a reçu davantage d'attention, et les données objectives ont été utilisées plus efficacement. ENVIRONNEMENT LOCAL: En 2010, environ 30% de toutes les femmes enceintes en Afrique du Sud étaient séropositives, et la moitié de tous les décès dénfants de moins de 5 ans étaient associée au virus. CHANGEMENTS SIGNIFICATIFS: Entre 2008 et 2011, la proportion estimée de nourrissons de moins de 2 mois exposés au VIH, ayant subi une réaction en chaîne par polymérase (PCR) de routine visant à détecter la transmission précoce du VIH, est passée de 36,6% à 70,4%. Le taux estimé de transmission du VIH a diminué, passant de 9,6% à 2,8%. Les enquêtes basées sur la population en 2010 et 2011 ont signalé des taux de transmission de 3,5% et 2,7%, respectivement. LEÇONS TIRÉES: Voici certaines actions essentielles pour améliorer les résultats du programme: assurer la mise en œuvre rapide des changements de politique de PTME sur le terrain, grâce à la formation et à la diffusion des lignes directrices; assurer une bonne coordination avec les partenaires techniques, comme les agences de santé internationales et locales et les organisations non gouvernementales; et utiliser les données et les indicateurs relatifs à tous les aspects du programme de PTME. Il est aussi utile de permettre au personnel soignant des établissements de soins de santé primaires d'initier un traitement antirétroviral et de développer les services de laboratoire pour les décomptes de cellules CD4 + T et les tests PCR.