Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis initiation, continuation and adherence among pregnant and postpartum women receiving antenatal and postnatal care: a systematic review
Source
Journal of the International Aids Society
PUBLICATION YEAR:
2025
OUTPUT TYPE:
Journal Article
Print
HSRC Library: shelf number 9815133
handle
https://doi.org/10.14749/32360250
In 2023, oneâfourth of new HIV acquisitions in children globally resulted from vertical transmission following incident HIV during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Oral preâexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine is safe and effective in pregnancy and postpartum, with longâacting options emerging. Integrating PrEP into antenatal and postnatal care (ANC/PNC) is a crucial personâcentred approach to prevent maternal HIV acquisition and vertical transmission. This review summarizes oral PrEP initiation, continuation and adherence among pregnant and postpartum women receiving ANC/PNC. We systematically searched three databases for Englishâlanguage quantitative studies published between 1 January 2015 and 28 March 2024. Eligible studies focused on pregnant and/or postpartum women accessing PrEP through ANC/PNC, and reported on initiation (receipt of prescription or selfâreported use), continuation (persistent use over time) and/or adherence (selfâreported and/or objective). We identified 481 articles; 12 studies from Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi and South Africa met our inclusion criteria. Study heterogeneity (e.g. definitions used, population included, followâup time) precluded metaâanalysis. All studies enrolled pregnant women; three also enrolled postpartum women. Median gestational age at enrolment ranged from 20 to 26 weeks, and followâup periods from 1 month postâenrolment to 12 months postpartum. Oral PrEP initiation ranged from 14% to 84%. Continuation at 3 months ranged from 22% to 90% and declined postpartum in all studies. Selfâreported adherence (daily use) ranged from 11% to 81% in the past 7 or 30 days at 1 month (four studies) and from 54% to 81% at 3 months (two studies). Objectively measured adherence ranged from 34% to 62% for detectable tenofovir or tenofovir diphosphate levels at 1 month (three studies). One Kenyan trial demonstrated that universal versus riskâbased offers of oral PrEP resulted in similar PrEP use and HIV incidence. Twoâway SMS communication (Kenya) and realâtime adherence biofeedback counselling using urine tenofovir testing (South Africa) enhanced PrEP continuation/adherence compared to standardâofâcare.