Maternal Infections: Protecting Newborns from Transmission

When it comes to moms and their little ones, the last thing anyone wants is for the baby to catch an infection from their mother. Sadly, maternal infections like HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B can be passed to newborns. This is why stopping these infections from getting to children is super important!

Every year, about 1.3 million women who have HIV give birth, and 900,000 pregnant women around the world have syphilis. Even more alarming, a large number of new hepatitis B infections happen in Africa and Southeast Asia. Health organizations, like the World Health Organization, have made it clear that checking expecting mothers for these infections is a top priority. They recommend Testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, but the rules and practices can vary a lot from country to country. Some places have their hands full with many health issues, and that makes it hard to focus on stopping mother-to-child infections.

#Progress with HIV Testing

When it comes to cutting down the mother-to-child transmission of HIV, some progress has been made. This is mainly because there has been a lot of investment in testing. Many expectant mothers get tested for HIV during their check-ups. However, the push for testing syphilis and hepatitis B during Pregnancy has not matched the efforts for HIV.

Even though guidelines say all pregnant women should be tested for these three infections, the reality is different. There isn't enough money or attention being given to syphilis and hepatitis B testing. To help out, the World Health Organization recommends using quick tests for both HIV and syphilis during pregnancy, which can save money and help more moms get tested. Sadly, there are not as many options for hepatitis B testing, which makes it tougher to reach our goals.

For countries with a lot of HIV cases, it’s really important to get testing right. This means making sure those who miss their appointments can catch up and encouraging retesting during the third trimester. Also, testing partners can really help out, especially since they can be a source of infection. However, many countries have not kept up with the best practices, and sometimes make it harder than it should be for women to get tested when they need to.

#Looking at the Guidelines

To figure out how countries are managing testing for these infections, researchers looked at guidelines from 46 different African nations. They checked to see if the rules for testing were as good as the recommendations from the World Health Organization. They specifically looked at guidelines from 2019 or later.

These reviews included guidelines in different languages. Some were in Portuguese, French, and Spanish, but hey, translators are here to help, right? The main task was to see if countries were following the best practices for HIV testing during pregnancy, including testing for syphilis and hepatitis B.

#Results of the Review

From the 46 countries, 12 were facing a big HIV problem. Luckily, 38 out of the 46 countries had combined guidelines for testing HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B during pregnancy. However, not all had updated their guidelines in recent years. Some countries didn't have any guidelines at all.

When it comes to HIV retesting, all 38 countries had some rules in place. About half of those countries were following the World Health Organization’s recommendations for timing and frequency of retests. Some countries were way too strict, requiring more tests than necessary, while others weren’t testing enough. This inconsistency shows a real need for better policies and resource allocation.

#The Syphilis Testing Situation

Now let’s talk about syphilis. Out of the 38 countries checking on HIV, 26 also recommended testing for syphilis. Unfortunately, not all of these countries specify what kind of tests they should use, but many of them recommend a fast test which can provide quick answers.

Despite the clear need, only 68% of countries made sure to include guidelines for pregnant women to be tested for syphilis. Some countries suggested pairing the syphilis test with the HIV test to save time and money. However, there’s still a long way to go, since many countries have not adopted such fast testing methods.

There’s also an issue with retesting for syphilis during pregnancy. Only about a third of countries suggested it, which is not nearly enough. With the risks of congenital syphilis, this is a big gap in the testing framework.

#Hepatitis B Guidelines

Now, let’s not forget about hepatitis B. Only 22 out of the 38 countries had guidelines recommending testing for hepatitis B during pregnancy. This is concerning since hepatitis B can cause severe problems for both mothers and babies. Even fewer countries provided guidance on following up with more tests after the initial one.

Follow-up testing is essential for figuring out how to treat the infection, yet not enough countries are offering clear instructions about it. This is a big oversight, especially in areas where hepatitis B is more common.

#What Needs to Happen Next

As we look at all this data, we can see progress in testing guidelines for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. However, the efforts are uneven. While many countries have made big strides in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, there are still many missed chances when it comes to syphilis and hepatitis B.

One key point is that even though most countries have some form of testing guidelines, just a few have comprehensive plans for all three infections. This means that testing for syphilis and hepatitis B needs to get more attention and funding. By shifting some focus from excessive HIV testing to increasing syphilis and hepatitis B testing, we can make big improvements in reducing infections in newborns.

It’s also important to streamline the testing process to be more efficient. Countries need to make use of rapid testing that saves time, ensuring that any issues can be caught early.

#A Call for Action

Moving forward, countries need to step up and ensure their testing guidelines match the recommendations from the World Health Organization. This means not just making claims, but following through with effective practices. Improving and continuing the strong HIV testing during pregnancy is still a priority, but we also must address the gaps in syphilis and hepatitis B testing.

With the right focus and funding, countries can make a real difference in protecting mothers and babies from these serious infections. It’s time to put the spotlight on preventive measures to improve health outcomes for families and communities. By coming together on this issue, we can make sure that fewer babies are born with infections that can be avoided.

In a nutshell, let’s wrap this up: testing is where it all starts, and it’s critical for achieving the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Everyone deserves a shot at health, right from the start! It’s high time that we put more effort into making sure all moms have access to the testing they need to keep their babies safe. A healthy mom means a healthy baby, and that’s something worth working towards together!