The progress of mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) after Dolutegravir (DTG) optimization program: evidence from a multicenter cohort study in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Ethiopia aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV by 2030. In 2020, Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimen optimization was done for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT). However, data tracking progress, particularly post-rollout of the Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen, and the real-world effectiveness of the new regimen are unavailable.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among HIV-infected mothers and their HIV-exposed infants visiting the selected hospitals for routine care. Eligible participants were HIV-exposed infants enrolled in the PMTCT care from 2017 to 2022. However, only the 2021 and 2022 birth cohorts were considered post-DTG optimization considering 2020 a year of optimization. The cumulative incidence of perinatal MTCT tested at 6-8 weeks of infant age, and end of care MTCT tested at 18 months of age was assessed. The exposures of the study were the infant birth cohort years and the different ART regimens used for PMTCT of HIV.

Results: Among a total of 2,643 routine care enrolled participants, 2521 (95.4%) HIV-exposed infants were included in the analysis. Of these, 210 were on follow-up and excluded from the breastfeeding MTCT analysis. A total of 30/2521(1.2%) [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8-1.7%] were positive for HIV at 6-8 weeks. Additionally, 11 /2281 (0.50%) (95% CI: 0.3-0.9%) were positive during breastfeeding. At the end of the care, 41/2311 (1.8%) (95% CI: 1.3-2.4%) infants were HIV-positive. The highest end-of-care MTCT was reported in 2019 and 2022 birth cohorts while the lowest was in 2018 (P-value > 0.3). However, after adjusting for baseline characteristics, the trend showed a decrease in transmission rates following the rollout of DTG-based regimen, although statistical significance was not reached. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for perinatal, breastfeeding, and end-of-care transmission rates were 0.34 (95%CI: 0.08-1.39), 0.29(95%CI: 0.03-3.05), and 0.38(95%CI: 0.11-1.26) respectively. Compared with the Efavirenz (EFV)-based regimen, the DTG-based regimen was associated with a lower risk of MTCT in both the perinatal (AOR 0.23, 95% CI: 0.06-0.85) and at the end of care (AOR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09-0.82). Pregnant women who started ART at late gestation had the highest transmission rate regardless of ART regimens (P-value < 0.001).

Conclusions: In the studied cohort population, we observed less than 3% MTCT rate at the end of PMTCT care. The findings might suggest the achievement of MTCT elimination at the hospital level. Although the DTG-based regimen demonstrated a lower risk of transmission, other contributing factors, such as late ART initiation, should be urgently addressed. Future research should focus on prospective designs, interventions targeting late ART initiation, and understanding regional disparities to further advance efforts to eliminate MTCT by 2030.

Keywords: Dolutegravir; Ethiopia; PMTCT; Pregnancy.

Fig. 1

Geographic locations of the study hospitals. Figure 1 shows the geographic locations of the study hospitals in central and southern Ethiopia, N [14]

Fig. 2

Study participants flow diagram. Figure 2 shows the study participants flow diagram from enrolment to end of care. It shows the number of HIV-exposed infants at birth, 6–8 weeks of age and 18 months of infants age as well as the number of HIV-infected infants

Fig. 3

Cumulative incidence and trends of MTCT with 95% CI among HIV-exposed birth cohorts from 2017–2022 in selected hospitals in Ethiopia. Figure 3a–c shows cumulative incidence and trends of MTCT with 95% Confidence Intervals among 2017–2022 birth cohorts in selected Hospitals in Ethiopia ; 3a) Perinatal MTCT (N = 2521), 3b) Breastfeeding MTCT (N = 2281), and 3c) end of care MTCT (N = 2311)

Fig. 4

Cumulative incidence of MTCT with 95% among HIV-exposed infants by maternal ART duration. Figure 4a–c shows the cumulative incidence of MTCT among HIV-exposed infants by maternal ART duration during PMTCT Care (2017–2022 Birth Cohorts) in selected hospitals in Ethiopia ; 4a) Perinatal MTCT ( N = 2521), 4b) Breastfeeding MTCT ( N = 2281), and 4c) end of care MTCT (2311)

Fig. 5

The risks of MTCT of HIV with 95% Confidence Intervals among ART regimens. Figure 5a–c shows the risks of MTCT of HIV among HIV-Infected pregnant or breastfeeding mothers using Dolutegravir (DTG) or Efavirenz (EFV) based ART regimens during routine PMTCT care (2017–2022) in selected hospitals in Ethiopia; 5a) Perinatal MTCT( N = 2053), 5b) Breastfeeding MTCT ( N = 1822) and 5c) end of care MTCT ( N = 1853)