Profile and outcomes of management of patients admitted to obstetric high care unit in a tertiary academic hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

The aim of this study was to describe maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of women admitted in a dedicated obstetric high care unit (OHCU) in a tertiary hospital in Gauteng province, South Africa. The study involved review of clinical records of women admitted to OHCU between January and June 2016. Data collected included maternal demographic data, indication for admission, management and outcomes.

Infant HIV Testing Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and Evolving PMTCT Guidelines in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted HIV programmes with the diversion of resources and lockdown measures. We assessed the impact of COVID-19 on infant HIV diagnosis in the context of updated 2019 prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) guidelines in Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods: HIV PCR data for children <2 years were extracted from the National Health Laboratory Service database from October 2018 to September 2021, inclusive.

Implementation of a PMTCT programme in a high HIV prevalence setting in Johannesburg, South Africa: 2002-2015.

Background: Great strides have been made in decreasing paediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, new paediatric HIV infections decreased by 84% between 2009 and 2015. This achievement is a result of a strong political will and the rapid evolution of the country's prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) guidelines.

Trends in maternal deaths in HIV-infected women, on a background of changing HIV management guidelines in South Africa: 1997 to 2015.

Introduction: As work begins towards the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, much needs to be done in ending preventable maternal deaths. After 1990, South Africa experienced a reversal of gains in decreasing maternal mortality, with an increase in HIV-related maternal deaths. In this study, we assessed trends in maternal mortality in HIV-infected women, on a background of an evolving HIV care programme.

Patient factors to target for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Background: There is great impetus to achieve elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) by 2015, and part of this is to identify factors to target to achieve the goal. This study thus identified key patient factors for MTCT in a high HIV prevalence setting in Johannesburg, South Africa. Between November 2010 and May 2012, we conducted a case-control study among HIV-infected women with HIV-infected (cases) and uninfected (controls) infants diagnosed around six weeks of age as part of routine, early infant diagnosis.

Assessment of service availability and health care workers' opinions about young women's sexual and reproductive health in Soweto, South Africa.

Young women in South Africa experience high HIV and unintended pregnancy rates. Health care workers' (HCWs') opinions about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues impact young women's ability to access SRH services. We explored HCW opinions through interviews with a purposive sample of 29 HCWs in three primary health clinics in Soweto, South Africa and examined service availability through facility assessments.

The reliability of point-of-care CD4 testing in identifying HIV-infected pregnant women eligible for antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Point-of-care (POC) CD4 testing may play an important role in identifying individuals who require antiretroviral therapy (ART), particularly during pregnancy. However, there have been no evaluations of POC CD4 testing in pregnant women. We compared the performance of the PIMA POC analyzer with laboratory-based testing in identifying pregnant women eligible for ART.