The prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: are we translating scientific success into programmatic failure?

Abstract

Purpose of review: The prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV stands as one of the first and most successful applications of scientific enquiry in the AIDS epidemic. While paediatric HIV has virtually been eliminated in industrialized countries, nearly 500 000 children were infected worldwide in 2007. This review considers the global successes and failures of prevention of mother-to-child transmission in order to shed light on the key question: why have relevant research advances not yet been successfully implemented in low-resource settings?

Recent findings: This review examines the accumulated evidence that has led to the definition of prevention strategies, and corresponding prevention of mother-to-child transmission guidelines. Numerous field implementation reports, in contrast, point to the global lack of success of prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes and pinpoint key factors which continue to drive their failure, including the low uptake of HIV counselling and testing, continuing postnatal transmission through breastfeeding, and the lack of linkages between prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes and primary prevention, family planning and, most importantly, the provision of care and treatment.

Summary: Two country examples, Thailand and South Africa, illustrate that political will is the most important factor for the success of prevention of mother-to-child transmission interventions. Much more needs to be done to translate the remarkable prevention of mother-to-child transmission research progress into programme success.