Montandon M, Efuntoye T, Itanyi IU, et al.
Nigeria continues to show reduced antiretroviral therapy coverage among pregnant women living with HIV, prompting evaluation of the Baby Shower strategy, a faith-based congregational approach combining spiritual observance, health education, delivery kit distribution, and onsite HIV screening with treatment linkage, in routine practice in Benue State, Nigeria. Across eighty events held from July 2016 to October 2017, 10,056 pregnant women and 6,187 male partners participated, with 61.5% of women attending alongside a partner; 44.9% of women were not currently enrolled in antenatal care, and roughly a quarter had never been tested for HIV. Over 99% received results, with 7.2% of women and 4.0% of men testing positive, and 93.0% of positive pregnant women achieved treatment linkage. The authors conclude that faith-based community strategies effectively reach populations that avoid facility-based services, though stronger engagement mechanisms are needed.
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