Trends in Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV: A Regional Analysis of Punjab, Pakistan

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Introduction: Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV plays a vital role in detecting HIV infection in infants born to HIV-positive mothers, enabling timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Since maternal antibodies persist in infants for several months, virological tests like PCR and GeneXpert are essential for early and accurate diagnosis. This study aimed to analyse trends in Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV across various cities in Punjab, Pakistan. Methodology: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted at the Punjab AIDS Control Program, Lahore, including 214 HIV-exposed infants aged 0–18 months, whose mothers were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least six months. Data were retrospectively extracted from medical records covering November 2022 to June 2024. HIV testing was conducted using GeneXpert and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques to ensure early and accurate diagnosis. Results: The results showed an overall HIV positivity rate of 16%, with the highest prevalence observed among infants aged 0–5 months (14 cases) and 11–15 months (12 cases). Geographical analysis indicated that Lahore had the highest number of HIV-exposed infants (101 cases), followed by DG Khan (16 cases) and Faisalabad (13 cases). Major risk factors for parental transmission included blood transfusions, spousal transmission, and injecting drug use (IDU). Conclusion: The study highlights significant regional disparities in EID prevalence and emphasizes the need for strengthening early diagnostic interventions to improve infant health outcomes in Punjab.