Enhanced Efforts to Get Infants and Children in Port Elizabeth into PMTCT and Health Care Programs | Center for Public Health and Human Rights

Principal Investigators: Stefan Baral, Andrew Lambert, Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya

Co-Investigators: Sheree Schwartz, PhD

Project Dates: January 2014-June 2016

Description: This is a two-phased study. The first phase was completed in April 2015 and assessed HIV prevalence and engagement of female sex workers (FSW) in the HIV treatment cascade in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and also assessed engagement in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs and vertical transmission risks from FSW mothers to children. Phase 2 is currently underway and is assessing the health of both FSW mothers and their children. The study recruits mother-child dyads and conducts full health assessments on the children and compares findings with health assessments of the mother. This will be one of the first assessments of the health of children of FSW in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Partners: This project is being implemented by the TB/HIV Care Association in collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council and Johns Hopkins University

Funding Source: MAC AIDS Foundation

Project Publications:

Schwartz S, Lambert A, Phaswana-Mafuya N, Holland C, Kose Z, Mcingana M, Sweitzer S, Baral S. Engagement in the HIV care cascade and predictors of uptake of antiretroviral therapy among female sex workers in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Oral late-breaker presentation (A-729-0202-03701) at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Vancouver, British Columbia, July 2015.