Progress and challenges towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in India

Pradeep Kumar; Chinmoyee Das; Vishal Deo; Himanshu K. Chaturvedi; Subrata Biswas; Nidhi Priyam; Lalit Singh Kharayat; Sanjay K. Rai; Sheela V. Godbole; Elangovan Arumugam; P. V.M. Lakshmi; Shanta Dutta; H. Sanayaima Devi; Pankaj Bhardwaj; Arvind Kumar Singh; Rashmi Shinde; Damodar Sahu; Shashi Kant; Dandu Chandra Sekhar Reddy; Sanjay Mehendale; Shobini Rajan

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2

Progress and challenges towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in India

Pradeep Kumar^*
, Chinmoyee Das
, Vishal Deo
, Himanshu K. Chaturvedi
, Subrata Biswas
, Nidhi Priyam
, Lalit Singh Kharayat
, Sanjay K. Rai
, Sheela V. Godbole
, Elangovan Arumugam
, P. V.M. Lakshmi
, Shanta Dutta
, H. Sanayaima Devi
, Pankaj Bhardwaj
, Arvind Kumar Singh
, Rashmi Shinde
, Damodar Sahu
, Shashi Kant
, Dandu Chandra Sekhar Reddy
, Sanjay Mehendale

Shobini Rajan

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

India has intensified efforts towards elimination of vertical transmission of HIV (EVTH) as part of National AIDS and STD Control Programme-V (NACP-V). We present the progress in achieving NACP-V’s EVTH goal as of year 2023-24. We analysed the 2023 state level data using Spectrum model in 2023 to measure the coverage of anti-retroviral treatment among pregnant women, annual paediatric HIV case incidence rate and final vertical transmission rate. UNAIDS and WHO definitions for these indicators were used. In 2023, around 2350 new paediatric infections were estimated by vertical transmission. However, 44% of these transmissions resulted from incident HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Overall, paediatric HIV incidence per 100,000 live births decreased from 25.2 (14.7–46.6) in 2019 to 10.4 (6.1–19.3) in 2023. During the same reference period, final vertical transmission rate (inclusive of breastfeeding period) decreased from 25.28% (17.06–37.99) in 2019 to 11.75% (7.93–17.66) in 2023. The 2023 India HIV estimates, using recent data and global modelling tools, highlighted progress in eliminating vertical transmission of HIV. Early identification of HIV-positive mothers and starting them on lifelong ART is crucial. Additionally, generating local evidence is needed on interventions like safe practices, repeat testing, and feeding practices to inform policy decisions.

Original language	English
Article number	25004
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2
Publication status	Published - 12-2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General

Access to Document

10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2

Cite this

Kumar, P., Das, C., Deo, V., Chaturvedi, H. K., Biswas, S., Priyam, N., Kharayat, L. S., Rai, S. K., Godbole, S. V., Arumugam, E., Lakshmi, P. V. M., Dutta, S., Devi, H. S., Bhardwaj, P., Singh, A. K., Shinde, R., Sahu, D., Kant, S., Reddy, D. C. S., ... Rajan, S. (2025). Progress and challenges towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in India. Scientific Reports, 15(1), Article 25004. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2

@article{8619f0c6217e4733a7f94089374bc494,

title = "Progress and challenges towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in India",

abstract = "India has intensified efforts towards elimination of vertical transmission of HIV (EVTH) as part of National AIDS and STD Control Programme-V (NACP-V). We present the progress in achieving NACP-V{\textquoteright}s EVTH goal as of year 2023-24. We analysed the 2023 state level data using Spectrum model in 2023 to measure the coverage of anti-retroviral treatment among pregnant women, annual paediatric HIV case incidence rate and final vertical transmission rate. UNAIDS and WHO definitions for these indicators were used. In 2023, around 2350 new paediatric infections were estimated by vertical transmission. However, 44\% of these transmissions resulted from incident HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Overall, paediatric HIV incidence per 100,000 live births decreased from 25.2 (14.7–46.6) in 2019 to 10.4 (6.1–19.3) in 2023. During the same reference period, final vertical transmission rate (inclusive of breastfeeding period) decreased from 25.28\% (17.06–37.99) in 2019 to 11.75\% (7.93–17.66) in 2023. The 2023 India HIV estimates, using recent data and global modelling tools, highlighted progress in eliminating vertical transmission of HIV. Early identification of HIV-positive mothers and starting them on lifelong ART is crucial. Additionally, generating local evidence is needed on interventions like safe practices, repeat testing, and feeding practices to inform policy decisions.",

author = "Pradeep Kumar and Chinmoyee Das and Vishal Deo and Chaturvedi, \{Himanshu K.\} and Subrata Biswas and Nidhi Priyam and Kharayat, \{Lalit Singh\} and Rai, \{Sanjay K.\} and Godbole, \{Sheela V.\} and Elangovan Arumugam and Lakshmi, \{P. V.M.\} and Shanta Dutta and Devi, \{H. Sanayaima\} and Pankaj Bhardwaj and Singh, \{Arvind Kumar\} and Rashmi Shinde and Damodar Sahu and Shashi Kant and Reddy, \{Dandu Chandra Sekhar\} and Sanjay Mehendale and Shobini Rajan",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

publisher = "Nature Research",

number = "1",

}

Kumar, P, Das, C, Deo, V, Chaturvedi, HK, Biswas, S, Priyam, N, Kharayat, LS, Rai, SK, Godbole, SV, Arumugam, E, Lakshmi, PVM, Dutta, S, Devi, HS, Bhardwaj, P, Singh, AK, Shinde, R, Sahu, D, Kant, S, Reddy, DCS, Mehendale, S & Rajan, S 2025, 'Progress and challenges towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in India', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, 25004. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2

TY - JOUR

T1 - Progress and challenges towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in India

AU - Kumar, Pradeep

AU - Das, Chinmoyee

AU - Deo, Vishal

AU - Chaturvedi, Himanshu K.

AU - Biswas, Subrata

AU - Priyam, Nidhi

AU - Kharayat, Lalit Singh

AU - Rai, Sanjay K.

AU - Godbole, Sheela V.

AU - Arumugam, Elangovan

AU - Lakshmi, P. V.M.

AU - Dutta, Shanta

AU - Devi, H. Sanayaima

AU - Bhardwaj, Pankaj

AU - Singh, Arvind Kumar

AU - Shinde, Rashmi

AU - Sahu, Damodar

AU - Kant, Shashi

AU - Reddy, Dandu Chandra Sekhar

AU - Mehendale, Sanjay

AU - Rajan, Shobini

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - India has intensified efforts towards elimination of vertical transmission of HIV (EVTH) as part of National AIDS and STD Control Programme-V (NACP-V). We present the progress in achieving NACP-V’s EVTH goal as of year 2023-24. We analysed the 2023 state level data using Spectrum model in 2023 to measure the coverage of anti-retroviral treatment among pregnant women, annual paediatric HIV case incidence rate and final vertical transmission rate. UNAIDS and WHO definitions for these indicators were used. In 2023, around 2350 new paediatric infections were estimated by vertical transmission. However, 44% of these transmissions resulted from incident HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Overall, paediatric HIV incidence per 100,000 live births decreased from 25.2 (14.7–46.6) in 2019 to 10.4 (6.1–19.3) in 2023. During the same reference period, final vertical transmission rate (inclusive of breastfeeding period) decreased from 25.28% (17.06–37.99) in 2019 to 11.75% (7.93–17.66) in 2023. The 2023 India HIV estimates, using recent data and global modelling tools, highlighted progress in eliminating vertical transmission of HIV. Early identification of HIV-positive mothers and starting them on lifelong ART is crucial. Additionally, generating local evidence is needed on interventions like safe practices, repeat testing, and feeding practices to inform policy decisions.

AB - India has intensified efforts towards elimination of vertical transmission of HIV (EVTH) as part of National AIDS and STD Control Programme-V (NACP-V). We present the progress in achieving NACP-V’s EVTH goal as of year 2023-24. We analysed the 2023 state level data using Spectrum model in 2023 to measure the coverage of anti-retroviral treatment among pregnant women, annual paediatric HIV case incidence rate and final vertical transmission rate. UNAIDS and WHO definitions for these indicators were used. In 2023, around 2350 new paediatric infections were estimated by vertical transmission. However, 44% of these transmissions resulted from incident HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Overall, paediatric HIV incidence per 100,000 live births decreased from 25.2 (14.7–46.6) in 2019 to 10.4 (6.1–19.3) in 2023. During the same reference period, final vertical transmission rate (inclusive of breastfeeding period) decreased from 25.28% (17.06–37.99) in 2019 to 11.75% (7.93–17.66) in 2023. The 2023 India HIV estimates, using recent data and global modelling tools, highlighted progress in eliminating vertical transmission of HIV. Early identification of HIV-positive mothers and starting them on lifelong ART is crucial. Additionally, generating local evidence is needed on interventions like safe practices, repeat testing, and feeding practices to inform policy decisions.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010443505

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010443505#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2

DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-09481-2

M3 - Article

C2 - 40640342

AN - SCOPUS:105010443505

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 15

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 25004

ER -

Progress and challenges towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in India

Abstract

UN SDGs

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this