Ruden C, Mengistu T, Shibru A, Asfaw Y; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeE6840.
IntraHealth International, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Issues: With a goal of reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 40% within five years or less in 12 African countries and the Caribbean, the Presidential International Prevention of Mother and Child HIV Initiative requires fast-paced implementation and rapid improvements in health care delivery capacity. The challenges are especially daunting in countries like Ethiopia, where most births take place in the home, less than a quarter of women in rural areas receive prenatal care, and HIV prevalence among women aged 15-24 is 21%. Description: The PRIME II Project coordinates program activities for USAID and the CDC in the Hareg Project, the presidential PMTCT initiative in Ethiopia. This paper explores the challenges of launching and scaling-up Hareg, which relies on community mobilization to increase the use of health facility-linked prenatal care as an entry point for women to receive PMTCT services. Lessons learned: A dynamic launch can create high demand for services and even expand project scope. Creating partnerships between health facilities and communities is essential. A highly participatory approach helps to identify client flow solutions within facilities; community leaders and non-clinicians have valid ideas to ensure confidential and convenient services. Application to Axios International's PMTCT Donation program should begin early and in concert with the Ministry of Health to ensure sustainable drug supply and distribution. Recommendations: Develop networks involving clinicians and community leaders. To address the competing demands of a high maternal mortality ratio, integrate and strengthen safe motherhood initiatives as part of PMTCT. Concentrate on the systems behind the services by developing short-term goals that will ultimately further long-term achievements: supply system strengthening, site readiness plans, community readiness and policy dialogue.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Caribbean Region
- Child
- Consumer Participation
- Delivery of Health Care
- Ethiopia
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health
- Health Planning
- Health Services Accessibility
- Humans
- Maternal Health Services
- Maternal Mortality
- Maternal-Child Health Centers
- Prenatal Care
- Prevalence
Other ID:
UI: 102284751
From Meeting Abstracts