Background: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program includes a cascade of services given to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in-utero, during delivery and during breastfeeding. Zimbabwe has made tremendous progress in increasing coverage of PMTCT services and reducing MTCT rate. COVID-19 has negatively impacted HIV programs. Murewa was among the districts with the most COVID-19 cases. We evaluated the PMTCT program in Murewa District in the face of COVID-19 challenges. Methods: We assessed inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes of the PMTCT program using the logic model approach. We collected data using interviewer-administered questionnaire, records review, and a checklist to assess availability of inputs, processes carried out and outputs realized from the program. We randomly selected health workers and program recipients. We used Epi info 7 to compute frequencies, means and proportions. Results: Murewa District had 58 health workers in post against an establishment of 92. Seven out of 16 facilities reported having HIV test-kit stockout. Only 4/16 were conducting postnatal clinics. No PMTCT training were conducted. Only 1872/5693 (33%) of HIV consumables including HIV test kits and CD4 count reagents were procured. The reasons reported for low PMTCT coverage in Murewa were fear of contracting COVID-19 at health facilities 33/43 (77%), lack of bus fare 28/43 (65%) and unavailability of medical consumables 26/43 (60%). Conclusion: The PMTCT program in Murewa District failed to meet targets for inputs, processes, and outputs worsened by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reasons for low PMTCT coverage in Murewa District were reported to be due to fear of contracting COVID-19, unavailability of medical consumables and COVID-19 travelling restrictions. We recommended development of guidelines on provision of PMTCT services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We gave health education to program recipients on the importance to access PMTCT services even amid public health emergencies like COVID-19.
References
[1]
(2015) Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.
https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-programming/prevention/prevention-mother-child
Chadambuka, A., Katirayi, L., Muchedzi, A., et al. (2017) Acceptability of Lifelong Treatment among HIV-Positive Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women (Option B+) in Selected Health Facilities in Zimbabwe: A Qualitative Study. BMC Public Health, 18, Article No. 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4611-2
[4]
(2021) An Evaluation of Zimbabwe’s Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme to Reduce the Infant Mortality Rate: A Case Study of Chitungwiza. Afribary.
https://afribary.com/works/an-evaluation-of-zimbabwe-s-prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission-pmtct-programme-to-reduce-the-infant-mortality-rate-a-case-study-of-chitungwiza
[5]
Musarandega, R., Robinson, J., Sen, P.D., et al. (2020) Using the Critical Path Method to Rollout and Optimise New PMTCT Guidelines to Eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Zimbabwe: A Descriptive Analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 20, Article No. 1042.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05900-4
(2021) Global Aids Response Progress Report 2020 Gam Zimbabwe.
https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/country/documents/ZWE_2020_countryreport.pdf
[8]
Vrazo, A.C., Golin, R., Fernando, N.B., et al. (2020) Adapting HIV Services for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women, Infants, Children, Adolescents and Families in Resource-Constrained Settings during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 23, e25622. https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25622
[9]
Stover, J., Chagoma, N., Taramusi, I., Teng, Y., Glaubius, R. and Mahiane, G. (2020) Estimation of the Potential Impact of COVID-19 Responses on the HIV Epidemic: Analysis Using the Goals Model. medRxiv [Preprint].
https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.04.20090399
(2021) Education & HIV Treatment for 100 Children-Murewa. GlobalGiving.
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/treatment-literacy-for-hiv-positive-children/
[12]
Ulalo, A.R. (2016) Assessement of Knowledge of and Adherence to the Recommended Intrapartum Obstetric Guidelines for PMTCT of HIV by Health Workers at Mbagathi District Hospital, Nairobi. University of Nairobi, Kenya.
[13]
Igwegbe, A.O. and Ilika, A.L. (2005) Knowledge and Perceptions of HIV/AIDS and Mother to Child Transmission among Antenatal Mothers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 8, 97-101.
[14]
Mutyambizi, C., Dunlop, J., Maluleke, C., et al. (2021) Effect of COVID-19 on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Indicators in Mopani District, South Africa. The South African Medical Journal, 111, 1181-1189.
https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i12.15822
[15]
Dada, D.A., Aku, E. and David, K.B. (2020) COVID-19 Pandemic and Antiretrovirals (ARV) Availability in Nigeria: Recommendations to Prevent Shortages. The Pan African Medical Journal, 35, Article No.149.
https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.25639
[16]
Agarwal, N., Biswas, B. and Nair, R. (2020) Ensuring Safety and Availability of healthcare Workers in the Era of COVID-19: An Experience from the Eastern State of India. Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, 72, 58-64.
https://doi.org/10.25259/IJMS_128_2020