Birth Outcomes In Eswatini After Transition To Dolutegravir-Based Treatment

This is an observational study conducted at five high volume hospitals in Eswatini, in which birth defect and other data will be collected at the time of delivery (or hospital admission for miscarriages and medical abortions) for all women. The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the birth outcomes of HIV-positive women who are receiving DTG or other ARV drug regimens. The primary research objectives are to: 1) determine the proportion of neural tube defects among live and stillborn infants delivered by HIV-positive women on DTG at conception; 2) determine the proportion of neural tube defects among live and stillborn infants delivered by HIV-negative women; and 3) determine the proportion of neural tube defects among live and stillborn infants delivered by HIV-positive women on non-DTG ART at conception. Secondary objectives are to determine overall general prevalence of major external birth defects and other pregnancy outcomes and any associations with other factors (e.g., maternal age, gravida). Data on mothers' pregnancy history, birth outcomes, and HIV and ARV information (as applicable) are collected from patient charts, registers, reporting forms and databases for all women. Women of live or stillborn infants with birth defects are consented for interviews capturing detailed history and exposure data and photographs of newborns' birth defects. Data collection will be for approximately 24 months. Blinded interview data and photographs are reviewed by a medical geneticist for confirmatory defect diagnosis. We will describe rates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for birth defects among infants by maternal HIV and ART status.

Surveillance component includes all deliveries/admissions as defined in study population description. For a subset of the population recruited for additional data collection:

Inclusion criteria

• women whose live or stillborn infant has birth defect as identified by a midwife or other clinician at the study hospital
• willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• unable to provide informed consent