Evaluating the Feasibility of Point-of-Care Birth Testing in Eswatini

Overview

This Unitaid-funded study assessed the feasibility and utility of birth testing using point-of-care (POC) HIV nucleic acid testing (NAT) in maternity settings in Eswatini. The study used a mixed methods design and also evaluated the impact of POC birth testing on retention in care.

Data Collection Period: 09/2018 – 08/2020

Publications and Presentations:

1. Findings presented at the 26th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, March 2019: “Routine point-of-care HIV testing at birth: results from a 1-year pilot in Eswatini“
2. Findings presented at the 20th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, December 2019: “Routine point-of-care HIV testing at birth: Results from a pilot in Eswatini”
3. Findings published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, July 2020: “The Cascade of Care From Routine Point-of-Care HIV Testing at Birth: Results From an 18-Months Pilot Program in Eswatini“
4. Findings published in BMC Pediatrics, July 2020: “The right time is just after birth”: acceptability of point-of-care birth testing in Eswatini: qualitative results from infant caregivers, health care workers, and policymakers”
5. Findings presented at the 12th International Workshop on HIV & Pediatrics, November 2020: “Clinical outcomes of infants identified HIV-positive at birth through routine point-of-care early infant HIV diagnosis; a pilot program in Eswatini”