Long-Term Outcomes of HIV-Infected Women Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy After Transferring Out of an Integrated Maternal and Child Health Service in South Africa.

Background: Integrated maternal and child health (MCH) services improve women's postpartum antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes during breastfeeding; however, long-term outcomes after transfer to general ART services remain unknown.
Methods: The MCH-ART trial demonstrated that maternal retention and viral suppression at 12-months postpartum were improved significantly among women randomized to integrated MCH services continued in the antenatal clinic through cessation of breastfeeding (MCH-ART arm) compared with immediate transfer to general ART services postpartum (standard of care). We reviewed electronic health records for all women who participated in the MCH-ART trial to ascertain retention and gaps in care and invited all women for a study visit 36- to 60-months postpartum including viral load testing.
Results: Of 471 women in MCH-ART, 450 (96%) contributed electronic health record data and 353 (75%) completed the study visit (median 44-month postpartum). At this time, outcomes were identical in both trial arms: 67% retained in care (P = 0.994) and 56% with viral loads <50 copies/mL (P = 0.751). Experiencing a gap in care after delivery was delayed in the MCH-ART arm with 17%, 36%, and 45% of women experienced a gap in care by 12-, 24-, and 36-months postpartum compared with 35%, 48%, and 57% in the standard of care arm, respectively.
Conclusions: The benefits of integrated maternal HIV and child health care did not persist after transfer to general ART services. The transfer of women postpartum to routine adult care is a critical period requiring interventions to support continuity of HIV care.