Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41847576›Full record

ArticlePublic health action2026

Retention of pregnant women living with HIV across health care levels in Sierra Leone.

I S Turay, A J Bah, T Sesay, D Nair, E Foday, R Samuels, F Lansana, R Zachariah, M Mustapha, J S Kanu and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Public health action, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

I S TurayMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
A J BahCollege of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
T SesayMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
D NairUNICEF, UNAIDS, CDC, WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Geneva, Switzerland.
E FodayMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
R SamuelsMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
F LansanaCollege of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
R ZachariahUNICEF, UNAIDS, CDC, WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Geneva, Switzerland.
M MustaphaCollege of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
J S KanuNational Public Health Agency, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
B D FofanahUNICEF, UNAIDS, CDC, WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Geneva, Switzerland.
F KanuMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
J A KoromaMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
M S KanuMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
W K LahaiMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
M A SesayMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
G N Kamara34 Military Hospital, Defense Medical Services Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
I F KamaraUNICEF, UNAIDS, CDC, WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Geneva, Switzerland.
S LakohMinistry of Health, Government of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

settingThe study was conducted across three health facilities in Sierra Leone, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (tertiary), Rokupa Government Hospital (secondary), and George Brook Community Health Centre (primary).

objectivesTo assess retention rates and identify factors associated with continued engagement of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLHIV) in antenatal and postnatal care.

methodsA retrospective cohort study using 2024 routinely collected antenatal and elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) data. Retention during antenatal and postnatal care was retrospectively assessed. Data were analysed, applying Poisson regression models to estimate relative risks.

resultsOf 397 PWLHIV enrolled, 84 (21.1%) were retained in antenatal care and 79 (25.9%) in postnatal care. Higher antenatal retention was linked to being newly diagnosed with HIV (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 7.67), having no formal education (aRR = 2.99), and older age. These factors also predicted postnatal retention, with adjusted relative risks of 14.30 for newly diagnosed women, 1.34 for older women, and 2.96 for those with no formal education.

conclusionRetention of pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV is low. Newly diagnosed, older, and less-educated women have better retention, while younger and already aware women struggle with engagement. We recommend enhanced counselling and targeted re-engagement strategies.

Indexed as

antenatal careeMTCTpostpartum carePWLHIVretention

Identifiers

PMID41847576
PMCPMC12991634

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.