Progress and Challenges of Implementing Decentralized HIV Testing For Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV – Myanmar

1.1. Background of the study

Acknowledging the feminizing pattern of the HIV epidemic, Myanmar has prioritized prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMCT) as one of the most important interventions since early 2000. Accordingly, the PMCT program, which was pilot-tested in a few major cross-border townships in 2001, gradually expanded each year to cover more geographic areas. By the end of 2015, the program reached 301 of the 330 townships in Myanmar and 38 hospitals (including 10 of the 38 tertiary level referral hospitals and 28 of the 40 secondary level referral hospitals).1

HIV testing is the entry point for identifying pregnant women living with HIV and enrollment for receiving PMCT services. Until 2012, HIV testing was conducted according to the national HIV testing strategies, which allowed testing to be performed at health facility laboratories where there was at least one trained lab technician. This stringent testing guideline hindered practical scaling up of the PMCT program. Test results were not always available on the same day, depending on the workloads of the labs.2 This meant that pregnant women in both urban and rural areas usually got their results during subsequent ANC visits instead of on the same day.

Consequently, the increase in coverage of the PMCT program did not meet the program’s expectations for proportionately increased uptake of HIV testing and higher percentages of pregnant women who received their test results.2 Only an estimated 25-30% of pregnant women were tested and received their results through the PMCT program.3 In 2012, only half of the ANC attendees who received pre-test counselling were tested and received their test results.4 The high drop-out rates between pre- and post-testing receipt of results became the main challenge for scaling up the program, especially since Myanmar’s PMCT regimen was continuously changing to adopt updated World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations on treating HIV-infected pregnant women as early as possible.5 Myanmar has pledged to achieve the global goal of eliminating paediatric HIV infection by 2020,6 which would require at least 95% HIV testing coverage of ANC attendees as a major process indicator.7

Considering the barriers against achieving the global target of HIV testing coverage and provision of ART to all HIV-infected pregnant women as early as possible, Myanmar rolled out the innovative point-of-care (POC) testing strategy for the PMCT program in late 2013. It was initiated in 84 PMCT townships in 2013, an additional 44 townships in 2014, and the remaining 173 townships in 2015.

For POC testing, midwives were trained to use a simple, rapid diagnostic test kit for HIV testing according to the providers’ guidelines, using a clear standard operational procedure in the local language.8 With the POC diagnosis, midwives were allowed to provide a screening test for all pregnant women seeking antenatal care (ANC). The screening test reactive individuals or specimens need to be referred or send to township hospital laboratories or sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic laboratories for confirmation testing.

1.2. Objectives/Specific aims

With the rollout of POC testing, it is important to evaluate the progress of HIV testing coverage and timeliness of testing and result provision during the first two years of the program’s implementation. As 70% of Myanmar’s population resides in rural areas,9 it is important to compare urban and rural status. In addition, it is crucial to explore the major challenges experienced in townships while implementing POC testing so that remedial actions can be put in place for scaling up in future. Findings from this study will be useful for future program improvements to meet the global goal of eliminating paediatric HIV infection by 2020.10

2.1. Study design

This was a mixed-methods study conducted in 23 townships randomly selected by a random number generator11 from a list of townships where POC testing was rolled out in 2013. The quantitative component (serial cross-sectional study) assessed the progress of HIV testing coverage among pregnant women, followed by a qualitative study exploring challenges faced by primary care providers rendering POC HIV testing and linkage to care.

ANC facilities (health centers) in the selected townships were serially assessed from 2012 to 2015 to provide quantitative data. Qualitative data was collected from primary health care providers from each of the selected townships who were voluntarily recruited during the 2016 data collection period of January to September.

2.2. Data collection

2.3. Data analysis

3.1. Proportion of ANC attendees who received HIV testing and test results

At baseline, half of the rural facilities had 60% HIV testing coverage among ANC attendees, whereas half of the urban facilities had 80% coverage. At the end of the study period, about half of rural and urban facilities had 100% coverage (Table 1).

As seen in the model output (Table 2), rural facilities had significantly lower log odds of 80% testing uptake than urban facilities at baseline. Both groups showed increasing log odds over time. The annual rate of improvement from baseline up to time point 2 was higher in the rural group (P value <0.1), and the rate of increase after time point 2 became lower in the rural group and higher in the urban group (P value >0.1). The trends of increase for both groups were depicted regarding probability in Figure 1.

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Figure 1

80% probability for ANC attendees being tested for HIV, 80% for HIV testing coverage at first ANC visit, and 70% for receiving same-day results (2012-2015)

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Among the possible effects of external factors, health center groups with female literacy rates of 93% and less had significantly better HIV testing uptake rates.

3.2. Proportion of ANC attendees being tested at their first visit

Although it would be preferable to assess the progress of HIV testing in terms of specific gestational week (before 14 week), it was very cumbersome for providers to specify exact gestational week at the time of testing, due to the inefficient paper-based registration system. Health centers usually prepare and keep ANC reports for first and subsequent visits, but do not record gestational week of ANC attendance. We could therefore only extract HIV testing coverage at the first ANC rather than at specific gestational week.

Phase of pregnancy at which women seek ANC was queried in the survey of health care providers. About one-third of providers said ANC commenced during the first trimester (before 14 weeks of gestation), half said that the first ANC visit usually took place during the second trimester (14 to 28 weeks), and the remaining (~15%) said the first ANC took place only after the second trimester.

The average HIV testing coverage at first ANC visit was 70% for both rural and urban centers at the baseline, then increased to 80% for rural and 90% for urban at the end of the study period (Table 1).

According to model output (Table 2), the urban group showed a 0.6 annual increase in log odds for achieving 80% HIV testing for the first ANC attendees until time point 2, and a slower rate of increase from time point 2 to 3. The rural centers had lower log odds at baseline, which remained at the same level until time point 2, but increased 0.9 between time points 2 and 3. None of the rates of increase were statistically significant. The trends in the probability of achieving 80% HIV testing for the first ANC attendees for urban and rural centers are shown in Figure 1.

3.3. Proportion who received their results on the same day as testing

The third outcome of interest was whether POC testing could shorten the test result turnaround time. The average level of providing same-day HIV test result was 0% for rural and 10% for clinics at the baseline, which increased to 90% for both groups at the end of the study (Table 1).

Urban centers showed increasing log odds of providing test results on the same day, with an increase of 4.48 log odds per year up to time point 2 (P-value <0.01), then increases of 3.01 (i.e., summation of coefficients for linear and spline time terms = 4.48-1.47) log odds each year after time point 2. Rural centers had significantly lower log odds than urban centers at baseline (P-value <0.001), but showed significant improvement throughout the study period. The rate of improvement was 36.42 (31.94+4.48) log odds up to time point 2, but slowed down thereafter (Table 2). The progress of providing same-day test results is depicted in terms of probability in Figure 1.

3.4. Service providers’ experiences with conducting POC testing

More than 600 primary health care providers responded to the questionnaire. About half to two-thirds of respondents gave positive or neutral responses. Responses to challenges were compiled and presented according to several identified themes.

4.1. Discussion

In this study, three major indicators were used to assess the progress of HIV testing coverage and timeliness of testing and giving results. In general, promising achievements were observed in all indicators by the end of the study period, which was two years after the initiation of the new testing strategy. Further details could be elucidated when comparing the progress of urban and rural health center groups over the study period.

Although both the rural and urban groups demonstrated improvement throughout the study period, rates and patterns of progress varied between the two groups. The urban group had significantly higher log odds of HIV testing coverage and receiving same-day test results at baseline, and had improved early HIV testing from the very beginning, though not statistically significant. The rural group appeared to struggle during the first year of implementation for early HIV testing.

Community-based primary health care in rural areas requires travel by each provider to an average of four to six villages, which is time-consuming, so there was delayed progress in the rural center group. Responses from care providers also indicated a number of challenges that need careful and urgent remedial action.

Heavy workloads, long travel times, and inadequate supply of HIV test kits were common issues reported as major challenges for achieving adequate HIV testing coverage, testing of ANC attendees on the first visit, and same-day results. The entire system of logistical and supply management of the PMCT program should be reviewed and modified to improve conditions in the field. In addition, alternative ways should be found to reduce the workload of primary care providers. Depending on the local context, recruitment and capacity-building of volunteer health workers from each village, such as community health workers and auxiliary midwives, could provide necessary support for primary care providers, especially for health education and group counselling, so that all required tasks can be carried out during the first visit of an ANC attendee.

Stigma and discrimination have been a long-term deterrent for HIV-related activities.14 Fear of being stigmatized is a major concern that prevents pregnant women from receiving confirmation testing and enrolling for treatment. Ways to reduce stigma and discrimination should be explored so that the program can reach out to those at risk for HIV infection.

Low levels of health knowledge and awareness of the advantages of PMCT services were reported to impede access to the testing and treatment services for PMCT. Communication strategies should include simple and clear behavior change messages on the continuum of care for all pregnant women and family members. Policymakers should consider including HIV testing as one of the essential services for routine ANC, which could help improve HIV testing acceptance among pregnant women and, consequently, early diagnosis and follow-up with necessary care services.

Noticeable improvements of all of the services were observed in both the rural and urban groups throughout the study period. However, much needs to be done to support continuous improvements, and there is a long way to go to achieve universal HIV testing coverage for pregnant women and to achieve an HIV-free generation.

Only 80% of the estimated numbers of pregnant women in Myanmar were reported to make at least one ANC visit during the study period, and about one-third of those who sought care came during their first trimester. ANC coverage and seeking early ANC among pregnant women needs to be increased. The necessity of improving ANC services is an essential prerequisite for moving towards elimination of paediatric HIV transmission.15 This was also raised as a key concern by service providers when an assessment of cascade of services was conducted in Myanmar.16

Drug efficacy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission is best when the treatment is started as early as 14 weeks of gestation.17 Myanmar adopted the WHO updated guideline in its national PMCT guideline in 2016 to treat all HIV-positive pregnant women as early as possible, regardless of CD4 count.18 Our findings also emphasize the need to provide HIV testing for all ANC attendees at the first visit and to give same-day results to maximize numbers of HIV-positive women who will undergo timely diagnosis and enrolment for appropriate treatment. Only about 80% of pregnant women in Myanmar make at least one ANC visit, and of these, about half do not seek ANC until their second trimester, and less than a sixth during their third trimester. Unless HIV testing and test results occur on the same day, a substantial proportion of HIV-positive pregnant women will not receive appropriate treatment, which could result in HIV transmission to their infants.

A very rapid rollout of POC testing revealed inadequate skills amongst health care providers in giving disclosure counseling, fear of providing wrong test results, and inadequate privacy for counseling those with positive test results. Improvements and modifications should be undertaken to sustain program improvement. There should be continued visits to the field by training teams to seek solutions to issues such as privacy for HIV testing and counseling for HIV-positive clients, as well as continued professional education plans based on need. Limitations in such support visits were mentioned by some service providers in another study.16 The program should set up a standard operating procedure on quality control for HIV screening tests, which could help build the confidence of providers since they are involved in regular quality control schemes and receiving feedback. The quality control plan is also crucial for long-term improvement of the program.

4.2. Limitations

There are some limitations to the study that should be noted. The data were extracted from service providers’ records and reports, with limited ability to track individual pregnant women completely throughout the cascade of services. Even with these limitations, our findings identified essential elements for improving the effectiveness of PMCT program implementation in the future.

4.3. Challenges

Advocacy with supervisors from different levels of the public health department and national AIDS program was a major prerequisite for data collection. Having extracted data from the paper-based records of primary health care providers, careful data completeness and consistency checking was required, and was conducted by the data collection team at study sites. In addition, tremendous efforts for rigorous data verification and triangulation were conducted by the researcher.