A significant number of pregnant women in Kenya are not undergoing HIV testing, contributing to a high rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission. In 2023, approximately 200,000 pregnant women missed HIV tests due to non-attendance at antenatal clinics or refusal to be tested. This gap in testing is a major challenge in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) reported that in 2023, 3,743 new HIV infections occurred among children under the age of four, with 2,607 children under 14 succumbing to the virus. Notably, 63% of these new infections were attributed to mother-to-child transmission linked to non-use or discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The report also highlighted a decline in antenatal care attendance, dropping from 96% in 2021 to 88% in 2023.

Five counties—Wajir, Mandera, Samburu, West Pokot, and Isiolo—reported mother-to-child transmission rates higher than 20%, while counties like Migori, Kisumu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Siaya, and Nairobi achieved rates lower than 7%.

Addressing these challenges requires increased HIV testing during pregnancy, improved access to antenatal care, and consistent ART adherence among pregnant women to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission.