Baylor Eswatini

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Our antenatal care (ANC) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services have created some of the most profound gains for Swazi families. By enrolling mothers in health services throughout their pregnancy and beyond, we have increased HIV testing, provided continuing health education, and ensured infants never contract HIV. Baylor Swaziland was recognized as the nation’s premier ANC and PMTCT services provider during regional semi-annual review meetings last year.

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The results speak for themselves: Of the infants under our care, all were HIV negative up to 18 months of age. Our

holistic approach includes everything from psychosocial support to HIV-positive women to routine obstetric healthcare services. All those with HIV were initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) as part of our initiative to start pregnantand lactating women on lifelong ART. The social work department is critical in helping mothers overcome anxiety andobstacles to treatment. And our Mother-Baby Pair program, which we explain in further detail elsewhere on this website, ensures we can provide better care for whole families.

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During 2016, 240 women with HIV received ANC in the facility, of whom 74 had never received ANC before. But there are still challenges. The World Health Organization guidelines recommend women make their first ANC visit during their first trimester and check back in at least four times during their pregnancy. Only 32% of our maternal patients, however, made their first visit during their first trimester, shy of the 60% target for 2018 stipulated in the country’s sexual reproductive health (SRH) strategic plan. This is a gap we need to fill by working with the Ministry of Health and others to increase health education and promote the benefits of early clinic visits.