The authorities used the technology for the early infant diagnosis programme. "HIV-1 early infant diagnosis (EID) programmes aim to detect HIV infection as early as possible in HIV exposed infants and link them to care and treatment," said Kushalsinh Pardeshi, co-author and ex-project director, MSACS.
In a unique combination of technology and medicine, the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) has used an innovative web-based mobile technology monitoring tool for ensuring linkages and tracking HIV-exposed children until 18 months of age. The study was published in the latest issue of Current Opinion in HIV and Aids journal.
The authorities used the technology for the early infant diagnosis programme. "HIV-1 early infant diagnosis (EID) programmes aim to detect HIV infection as early as possible in HIV exposed infants and link them to care and treatment," said Kushalsinh Pardeshi, co-author and ex-project director, MSACS.
He explained that for their 'EID Follow-up System', a web-based tool using Java Swing Framework was designed, which generated SMSes and emails for reminding the field staff to follow up on HIV-exposed babies seven days prior to the follow-up date.
Globally, the mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 results in approximately 3.7 lakh infant infections each year.
"The information was collected through field-tested excel-based HIV-positive pregnant women line list format incorporating the key indicators of Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) programme. This line list is generated at the HIV-testing facilities where pregnant women are detected HIV-positive. The format is then shared through email with HIV treatment facilities to update the treatment details of the women. This line list is then compiled in all the 33 districts," said Pardeshi.
He explained that the line list is updated on a periodic basis whenever the pregnant women access the PPTCT services at HIV facilities. Individual records in the line list are monitored and cross-checked by district and state level officials during the supervisory visits to these centres on a periodic basis. The data collected through the line list from different districts is then compiled by the state.
It is a known fact that EID of HIV provides substantial benefits to both HIV infected and uninfected infants as well as to programmes providing PPTCT services, including HIV counselling and testing, family-centric approach, provision of care, support and lifelong treatment for HIV-positive women, provision of ARV and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and early infant diagnosis services for HIV-exposed children, guidance on feeding and nutrition practices, and immunisation services.
According to the study, before the introduction of the 'EID Follow-up System', only 55.9% (637/1,139) of the HIV-exposed babies born were tested at six weeks for DNA-PCR during April 2011–March 2012. However, after its introduction, 68.4% were tested during April 2012–March 2013. Correspondingly, the 18 months confirmatory HIV testing in eligible babies increased from 45.6% to 54.7%.
The new system helped MSACS improve follow-up mechanisms and reach every HIV-exposed child for early infant diagnosis. The HIV prevalence among pregnant women in India is 0.35%. Maharashtra is one of the high prevalent states in the country with HIV prevalence of 0.4% among antenatal women and 0.42% in adults.
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