Early Diagnosis of HIV Infection in Infants - One Caribbean and Six Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2011-2015

WHO currently recommends testing of HIV-exposed infants in resource-limited settings using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology at age 4-6 weeks to optimize detection of intrauterine, intrapartum, and early postnatal HIV transmissions. Data collected during 2011-2015 from one Caribbean and six sub-Saharan African countries supported by PEPFAR were analyzed to assess progress in the provision of services for early infant HIV diagnosis and adherence to the WHO recommendation. The findings in this report are subject to at least three limitations. First, because of the low number of early infant diagnostic tests conducted in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the changes in HIV positivity observed over time may not be valid. Second, data were missing from several countries for some periods, making it difficult to assess trends. Finally, some data elements were self-reported and dependent upon perceptions of the respondent, such as programmatic data about successes and challenges of the early infant diagnosis program.