Research Article
Implementation of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission in the Global Eradication of HIV/AIDS:
A Critical Analysis of Progress and Persistent Gaps
Mukhtar Aisha Zakari*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
1-7
Received:
17 December 2025
Accepted:
8 January 2026
Published:
29 May 2026
Abstract: The global effort to eradicate Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has identified the prevention of vertical transmission as a critical strategic pillar. This narrative review and critical synthesis provide a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs within the broader HIV/AIDS eradication agenda. Drawing upon epidemiological data, policy frameworks, and regional case studies from 2000 to 2023, we assess the profound impact, persistent challenges, and evolving strategies of PMTCT. The analysis confirms that scaled-up PMTCT services have averted millions of pediatric HIV infections globally, with a documented 52% decline in new childhood infections between 2001 and 2012. However, progress is markedly heterogeneous, characterized by stalled antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage rates among pregnant women since 2014 and persistent high transmission burdens in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for approximately 90% of global vertical transmissions. This paper argues that the future of PMTCT, and by extension, the feasibility of ending AIDS as a public health threat hinges on the systematic integration of services into strengthened primary healthcare systems, the dismantling of socio-structural barriers to care, and the adoption of person-centered, equity-focused implementation models. Conclusively, while PMTCT is a proven biomedical intervention, its ultimate success is a function of robust health systems and sustained political commitment. The findings underscore the urgent need for policy shifts that prioritize health system integration and address the social determinants of health to achieve equitable PMTCT coverage globally.
Abstract: The global effort to eradicate Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has identified the prevention of vertical transmission as a critical strategic pillar. This narrative review and critical synthesis provide a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTC...
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Research Article
A Multimodal Discourse Interpretations of Selected HIV/AIDS Health Awareness Posters
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
8-20
Received:
4 February 2026
Accepted:
21 February 2026
Published:
6 August 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20261201.12
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Views:
Abstract: This study examined Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) awareness posters through the lens of Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA), investigating how visual, textual, and spatial elements converge to communicate public health messages. Drawing on an established social semiotic framework, the research analysed seven purposively selected posters from diverse organisational contexts which include governmental health agencies, international NGOs, and community-based advocacy organisations to explore how colour, typography, imagery, and layout interact to construct meaning and potentially influence audience perception. The analysis revealed that effective HIV/AIDS posters employed strategic combinations of semiotic resources to challenge stigma, promote testing, and encourage behavioural change. Findings indicate that the interplay between visual metaphors and linguistic choices significantly shaped message reception, with culturally resonant imagery and empowering narratives proving most semiotically effective. Three primary intersemiotic relationships were identified across the corpus: complementarity, elaboration, and tension. The most successful materials achieved complementarity, where visual and verbal modes reinforced one another coherently, while less effective materials exhibited modal tension. The study further demonstrated that typographic hierarchy, colour symbolism, especially the polysemic use of red and spatial organisation collectively function as meaning-making resources that extend well beyond aesthetic considerations. The AIDS ribbon emerged as a consistently deployed iconic symbol, accumulating layers of advocacy meaning across multiple posters. Conversely, materials that marked human bodies with disease nomenclature risked perpetuating the very stigmatising discourses they ostensibly sought to challenge. This multimodal approach offered valuable insights into health communication strategies, demonstrating how understanding the orchestration of multiple semiotic modes can enhance public health campaign effectiveness. The study contributes to both multimodal discourse theory and practical applications in health communication design, with implications extending to broader public health promotion contexts requiring sensitive, culturally appropriate, multimodal messaging.
Abstract: This study examined Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) awareness posters through the lens of Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA), investigating how visual, textual, and spatial elements converge to communicate public health messages. Drawing on an established social semiotic framework, the research analysed s...
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