Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Barriers to monitoring maternal HIV viral load (VL) and achieving 90% viral suppression during pregnancy and breastfeeding
still need to be understood in South Africa (SA).
OBJECTIVES : To measure quality of VL care and turnaround times (TATs) for returning VL results to women enrolled in the prevention of
mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme in primary healthcare facilities.
METHODS : Data were obtained from a 2018 cross-sectional evaluation of the PMTCT Option B+ programme in six SA districts with high
antenatal and infant HIV prevalence. Quality of VL care was measured as the proportion of clients reporting that results were explained to
them. TATs for VL results were calculated using dates abstracted from four to five randomly selected facility-based client records to report
overall facility ‘short TAT’ (≥80% of records with TAT ≤7 days). Logistical regression and logit-based risk difference statistics were used.
RESULTS : Achieving overall short TAT was uncommon. Only 50% of facilities in one rural district, zero in one urban metro district and
9 - 38% in other districts had short TAT. The significant difference between districts was influenced by the duration of keeping results
in facilities after receipt from the laboratory. Expected quality of VL care received ranged between 66% and 85%. Client-related factors
significantly associated with low quality of care, observed in two urban districts and one rural district, included lower education, recent
initiation of antiretroviral treatment and experiencing barriers to clinic visits. Experiencing clinic visit barriers was also negatively associated
with short TATs.
CONCLUSIONS : We demonstrate above-average quality of care and delayed return of results to PMTCT clients. Context-specific interventions
are needed to shorten TATs.
