Implementation Science Used to Decrease Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

Implementation science is used in various contexts around the world. Recently, the NIH led an effort to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission in Nigeria through implementation science efforts. Various approaches were studied with the goal to integrate research findings and evidence-based practices into health care services. Researchers and policymakers from both the United States and Africa were part of a Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Implementation Science Alliance to examine how implementation science can enhance the quality of PMTCT interventions and efforts. Various interventions were implemented and then assessed for effectiveness. For example, the NIH collaborated with churches to invite pregnant women to “baby showers” where women were given HIV testing and gifts. This intervention proved to be more effective for screening and recruiting than invitation to clinics. Although implementation science has proven successful in various efforts, there are still remaining challenges, such as linking HIV-positive infants to early treatment and increasing antiretroviral adherence. To read more about this implementation effort, click here.