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The Sida-funded study in Tanzania has investigated the effect of antiviral drugs, under a treatment program called Option B +, to halt the spread of infection in pregnant women in low-wage countries with many HIV-infected people.
– It is important to see that it works under these conditions. For example, many vaccines work worse for those who have been malnourished in childhood. There are many parties working together on issues like this, so it is important to do studies in the settings where it will be used, says Teresa Soop, Sida’s program manager.
Studies, which has been published in the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet, has shown promising results.
Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, has followed 10,161 pregnant women with HIV who have been treated under the program.
Up to 90 percent of mothers have shown low or immeasurable virus levels for up to four years after starting treatment, writes Karolinska Institutet (KI) on its website.
“Our study confirms the long-term health benefits of lifetime ART (antiviral drugs) for women starting Option B + during pregnancy, and thus for their children as well,” says lead author of the study, Goodluck Lyatuu, according to the KI website.
Teresa Soop considers it a big step forward and believes it could lead to more countries like Tanzania investing in this type of treatment.
– I think there is a greater incentive to continue the treatment of pregnant women. That you continue in a completely different way.
