Facilitators and barriers to retention in care under universal antiretroviral therapy (Option B+) for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT): A narrative review

Mother to child transmission remains the primary source of HIV in children. In 2013, The World Health Organisation (WHO), recommended Option B+ as prevention mother (PMTCT) strategy Low and Middle-income Countries. With this strategy, all positive pregnant lactating women are initiated on lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) regardless their clinical immunological status. Despite, contributing significantly reduction new infection children, non-retention care bottleneck. aim review was, therefore, synthesise evidence around facilitators barriers retention by mothers. This consisted an online literature search electronic databases including CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, BNI, Web Science, Latin America Caribbean Sciences Literature (LILAC) PubMed. Identified papers were critically appraised using Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A narrative synthesis method was used synthesize results. included 37 papers, mostly published sub-Saharan Africa. established that risk factors for PMTCT include young age (15–24 years), initiating mothers same day diagnosis, lack disclosure, anticipated stigma, hospital factors, concerns about side effects. suggests younger more susceptible PMTCT. Efforts should be made develop interventions retain reach zero children protect health