MOMBASA – August 15, 2025

This quarter, GHI, in collaboration with the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), successfully held the end-of-study dissemination meeting for the project:

“Evaluating the Impact of the HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem) on Retention in Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Services and Maternal Viral Suppression in Siaya and Mombasa Counties, Kenya.”

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was implemented between 2020–2025 and sought to evaluate the real-world impact of the HITSystem 2.1, an innovative online platform designed to strengthen PMTCT service delivery.

About the HITSystem

The HITSystem improves communication between clinics, laboratories, and mothers by:

• Sending automated text reminders to mothers for timely PMTCT follow-up.

• Providing dashboard alerts that prompt providers to take quick clinical action.

Through these tools, the system aims to bridge communication gaps, reduce delays, and ensure better continuity of care for mothers and their infants.

Study Outcomes

The collaborative randomized control trial assessed the following key outcomes:

• Retention in PMTCT services through six months postpartum.

• Maternal viral suppression within the same period.

In addition to clinical outcomes, the study also examined implementation effectiveness and the cost-efficiency of adopting digital platforms in PMTCT programs.

Dissemination Highlights

At the dissemination meeting in Mombasa, the study results were presented to county and hospital managers by the Lead Principal Investigator, Dr. Sarah Kessler (KUMC).

The findings stimulated insightful discussions on:

• The critical role of electronic systems in enhancing HIV/PMTCT service delivery.

• The importance of adoption and interoperability within county health systems.

• Opportunities for future collaborations between county governments, health facilities, and research units.

Looking Forward

The PMTCT Viral Load Monitoring Dissemination Report, presented alongside the HITSystem findings, reinforced the value of data-driven systems in strengthening maternal and child health programs. Both reports underline the potential of digital innovations like the HITSystem to transform HIV care outcomes in Kenya and beyond.

As we move forward, GHI remains committed to leveraging technology, partnerships, and evidence-based research to improve healthcare delivery for mothers, infants, and communities.