Implementation and Operational Research: Barriers and Facilitators to Combined ART Initiation in Pregnant Women With HIV: Lessons Learnt From a PMTCT B+ Pilot Program in Swaziland.

Background: In January 2013, Swaziland launched a prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) B+ implementation study in rural Shiselweni. We aimed to identify patient and health service determinants of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation to help guide national implementation of PMTCT B+.

Methods: This prospective cohort study uses routine data from registers and patient files in the PMTCT B+ pilot zone and a neighboring health zone where PMTCT A was the standard of care.