Abstract

Objectives: Retention-in-care is a crucial process in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and eMTCT (elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV). Despite a lot of finance and effort to improve retentionin-care, the term remains without a standard definition resulting in different reports about the concept. The objective of the article was to define, explain and clarify the concept of retention in the eMTCT program. Methods: A concept analysis, using Rodgers’ evolutionary frameworks was done. Eight articles were systematically reviewed to produce a definition of retention-in-care. Results: Attributes of retention-in-care include the following: the patient should be alive, attend all scheduled visits, participate in prescribed activities and the resultant retention can be objectively measured continuously,at death or when the mother gets transferred from the eMTCT program to routine adult HIV care. The suggested definition of Retention-in-eMTCT care can facilitate standardization, hence, uniform measurement and reporting of retention-in-care in clinical care and research. Conclusion: Despite the dynamic nature of retention in care, the provided definition of retention in eMTCT may facilitate a clearer understandi ng and standard measurement and reporting of the concept. Multiple measures which capture the different dimensions of retention need to be considered when reporting retention in the eMTCT programme.