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World J Virol. Jun 25, 2026; 15(2): 120310
Published online Jun 25, 2026. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v15.i2.120310
Published online Jun 25, 2026. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v15.i2.120310
Continuous quality improvement, linkage to peer supporters in prevention of mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus transmission programs in Rwanda
Jackson Sebeza, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali 3286, Rwanda
Peter Memiah, Department of Global Health, Graduate School, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Mariam Salim Mbwana, Department of Medicine, Primary Health Care Institute, Iringa 51108, Tanzania
Hassan Fredrick Fussi, Department of Medicine, District Hospital, Dar es Salaam 35091, Tanzania
Hafidha Mhando Bakari, Department of Literature, Communication and Publishing, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam 35091, Tanzania
Upendo Kayeke Chenya, Department of Prevention and Treatment, Drug Control and Enfor
Beatrice Kelvin Mpimo, Department of Research, Lincoln University, Oakland, CA 94612, United States
Haji Mbwana Ally, Department of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi 25116, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Basile Ikuzo, Division of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Institute of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease Prevention and Control, Kigali 4285, Rwanda
Habib Omari Ramadhani, Department of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Author contributions: Sebeza J, Mbwana MS, Memiah P, and Ramadhani HO contributed to conceptualization; Mbwana MS, Sebeza J, Ally ZM, Ally HM, and Ramadhani HO contributed to data curation; Ally HM, and Ramadhani HO contributed to formal analysis; Ally HM, Fussi HF, and Ramadhani HO contributed to methodology; Fussi HF, Memiah P, and Ramadhani HO contributed to validation; Sebeza J and Mbwana MS, contributed to writing original draft; Bakari HM, Sebeza J, Chenya UK and Mpimo BK contributed to visualization. All authors reviewed this manuscript, provided feedback, and approved the manuscript in its final form.
Institutional review board statement: The original study was approved by the Rwanda National Ethics Committee with approval certificate number 104/RNEC/2022.
Informed consent statement: This was a retrospective review of routinely collected clinical data. The study did not involve direct patient interviews and therefor no consent was sought.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Habib Omari Ramadhani, PhD, Senior Researcher, Department of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. homari@ihv.umaryland.edu
Received: February 24, 2026
Revised: March 10, 2026
Accepted: April 13, 2026
Published online: June 25, 2026
Processing time: 115 Days and 14.8 Hours
Revised: March 10, 2026
Accepted: April 13, 2026
Published online: June 25, 2026
Processing time: 115 Days and 14.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Peer supporters are instrumental for the successful navigation of prevention of mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission services, including maternal viral load suppression and early infant HIV diagnosis. This retrospective cohort study assessed the effect of continuous quality improvement on the assignment of peer supporters, achievement of undetectable viruses among pregnant women living with HIV, and mother-to-child transmission rates among HIV exposed infants in Rwanda. The findings showed that compared to healthcare facilities that did not employ continuous quality improvement approaches, those that did improved assignment of peer supporters and achievement of undetectable viruses.