Assessing the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Costs Associated with Very Early Infant Diagnosis at Birth in Lesotho and Rwanda

Overview

The goal of this study, funded by USAID through Project SOAR, was to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and costs associated with adding birth HIV testing to the routine testing algorithm for infants born to HIV-positive women. This evaluation leveraged existing activities from two USAID-funded prospective observational cohort studies in Lesotho and Rwanda.

Data Collection Period: March to December 2016

1. Findings presented at the 8th International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics, July 2016: “Infant birth testing is acceptable and does not inhibit return for 6-week testing”
2. Findings presented at the 9th International AIDS Society Conference, July 2017: “Piloting very early infant diagnosis (VEID) of HIV in Lesotho: acceptability and feasibility among mothers, health workers and laboratory personnel“
3. Findings presented at the 9th International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics, July 2017: “Piloting very early infant diagnosis (VEID) of HIV in Lesotho: acceptability and feasibility among mothers, health workers and laboratory personnel”
4. Findings published in AIDS Research and Treatment, December 2017: “Assessing Very Early Infant Diagnosis Turnaround Times: Findings from a Birth Testing Pilot in Lesotho“
5. Findings published in PLOS ONE, February 2018: “Piloting very early infant diagnosis of HIV in Lesotho: Acceptability and feasibility among mothers, health workers and laboratory personnel“
6. Findings published in PLOS ONE, August 2018: “Estimating the cost of diagnosing HIV at birth in Lesotho“