Disclosure and peer support in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus: Evidence from Rwanda - Editorial

Sep 28, 2026

This retrospective cohort study from Rwanda demonstrated the likelihood of maternal disclosure and peer support in preventing mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. High sustained maternal viral load suppression (91.0%) and exceptional infant testing uptake (100% at 6 weeks) correlated with a low 0.7% infant HIV incidence. To eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, effective strategies must engage male partners in disclosure, reduce stigma, improve health literacy, and provide structural peer-support for enhancing adherence and mental health.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Evidence of disclosure and peer support in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Rwanda

| W | J | V | World Journal of
Virology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | Submit a Manuscript: [https://www.f6publishing.com](https://www.f6publishing.com) World J Virol 2025 December 25; 14(4): 111700 DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v14.i4.111700 ISSN 2220-3249 (online) EDITORIAL Disclosure and peer support in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus: Evidence from Rwanda Saurav Basu Specialty type: Public, environmental and occupational health Provenance and peer review: Invited article; Externally peer reviewed. Peer-review model: Single blind Peer-review report’s classification Scientific Quality: Grade B, Grade C, Grade E Novelty: Grade C, Grade D Creativity or Innovation: Grade C, Grade D Scientific Significance: Grade C, Grade C P-Reviewer: Dabla V, PhD, Consultant, India; Zubair A, PhD, Academic Fellow, Post Doctoral Researcher, Senior Researcher, Pakistan Received: July 7, 2025 Revised: August 11, 2025 Accepted: September 24, 2025 Published online: December 25, 2025 Processing time: 171 Days and 12.4 Hours Saurav Basu, Community Medicine, ESI-PGIMSR Medical College and Hospital - Joka, Kolkata 700104, West Bengal, India Corresponding author: Saurav Basu, MD, Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, ESIPGIMSR Medical College and Hospital-Joka, Diamond Harbor Road, Kolkata 700104, West Bengal, [India.](India. saurav.basu1983@gmail.com)[ saurav.basu1983@gmail.com](India. saurav.basu1983@gmail.com) Abstract This retrospective cohort study from Rwanda demonstrated the likelihood of maternal disclosure and peer support in preventing mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. High sustained maternal viral load suppression (91.0%) and exceptional infant testing uptake (100% at 6 weeks) correlated with a low 0.7% infant HIV incidence. To eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, effective strategies must engage male partners in disclosure, reduce stigma, improve health literacy, and provide structural peer-support for enhancing adherence and mental health. Key Words: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission; Disclosure (human immunodeficiency virus status); Peer support; Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Adherence ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. Core Tip: Maternal disclosure and peer support are effective in preventing mother-tochild human immunodeficiency virus transmission. Citation: Basu S. Disclosure and peer support in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus: Evidence from Rwanda. World J Virol 2025; 14(4): 111700 URL: [https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3249/full/v14/i4/111700.htm](https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3249/full/v14/i4/111700.htm) DOI: [https://dx.doi.org/10.5501/wjv.v14.i4.111700](https://dx.doi.org/10.5501/wjv.v14.i4.111700) WJV [https://www.wjgnet.com](https://www.wjgnet.com) 1 December 25, 2025 Volume 14 Issue 4 Basu S. Disclosure and peer support in MTCT INTRODUCTION Pediatric HIV infections remain a significant global public health challenge, with over 120000 new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections recorded among children under five years old in 2023[1] . Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), occurring during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding, represents the primary mode of HIV acquisition in children, with the highest risk observed in low-resource settings. It is well-established that effective interventions for the prevention of MTCT, particularly maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART), substantially reduce this risk to below 5% in breastfeeding children and less than 2% in non-breastfeeding children [2] . Achieving viral load suppression (VLS) in individuals with HIV necessitates consistent daily adherence to ART [3] . However, adverse social determinants, such as lower socioeconomic status, inadequate social support, limited education, and pervasive societal

FAQs

What did the study from Rwanda assess regarding mother-to-child HIV prevention?

The study assessed the likelihood that maternal disclosure and peer support contribute to preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Which outcomes were most strongly associated with low infant HIV incidence?

High sustained maternal viral load suppression (91.0%) and high infant testing uptake (100% at 6 weeks) correlated with a low 0.7% infant HIV incidence.

What strategies does the editorial recommend to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV?

It recommends engaging male partners in disclosure, reducing stigma, improving health literacy, and providing structural peer support to strengthen adherence and mental health.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Alexandar