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. 2021 Jul 24:14:1987-1999.
doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S317829. eCollection 2021.

Understanding the Impact of Maternal HIV Infection on the Health and Well-Being of Mothers and Infants in South Africa: Siyakhula Collaborative Workshop Report

Marina White  1 , Ute D Feucht  2   3   4 , Louise de Villiers du Toit  5 , Theresa Rossouw  3   4   5 , Kristin L Connor  1
Affiliations

Understanding the Impact of Maternal HIV Infection on the Health and Well-Being of Mothers and Infants in South Africa: Siyakhula Collaborative Workshop Report

Marina White et al. J Multidiscip Healthc. .

Abstract

The Siyakhula study is an ongoing, observational cohort study in Pretoria, South Africa, that aims to understand how maternal HIV infection and perinatal environmental factors shape development and health in infants who are HIV-exposed (in utero and during breastfeeding) but remain uninfected themselves (HEU). The Siyakhula Collaborative Workshop, which took place at the Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn & Child Health Care Strategies at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa on November 15-16, 2018, brought together a group of international health scientists, clinicians, and stakeholders, including women with lived experience, to build capacity for research and training on the impact of HIV infection on women's and infants' health across geographical and disciplinary boundaries. The workshop sought to summarise the state of knowledge on the effects of being HEU on infant development and health in the first two years of life, identify gaps in existing research on modifiable exposures that may be associated with poor infant development, and develop ideas for novel research and interventions to lessen or prevent adverse health outcomes in pregnant or breastfeeding people living with HIV. These proceedings summarise the pre-workshop consensus process that was used to identify priority areas to discuss during small-group breakout sessions, as well as the themes and key challenges that emerged from these discussions during the workshop.

Keywords: HIV; PMTCT; breastfeeding; growth; immune; neurodevelopment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Prof. Dr. Theresa Rossouw report Speaker fees received from Merck - not related to the work presented in this publication. The authors reports no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of pre-workshop and workshop activities.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Final results to question 1 of the workshop surveys following two rounds (via email and in-person) of feedback from workshop participants. ART education, safety, and adherence, understanding health risks for infants who are HEU, and safe breastfeeding practices were identified as the top key areas that must be addressed when aiming to improve health and well-being of mothers and infants affected by HIV, and were chosen as guiding discussion topics for breakout groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Final results to questions 2–3, 5–6 of the workshop surveys following two rounds (via email and in-person) of feedback from workshop participants. Ideas generated in panels (A–D) supported and generated discussions throughout the breakout session and whole group discussions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Final results to questions 4 (A) and 7 (B) of the workshop surveys following two rounds (via email and in-person) of feedback from workshop participants.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Summary of perspectives shared by the women with lived experience at the workshop. Illustration of the barriers and opportunities to improve the health and well-being of women and children affected by HIV highlighted by the study participants in attendance throughout breakout group and whole-group discussions.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Summary of priority areas to address, and key challenges and opportunities identified through workshop discussions. To view the full infographic, visit: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3479460.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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