Kulkarni S, Kulkarni V, Darak S, Pant R; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. MoPeB3361.

PRAYAS, Pune, India

Issue: With increasing incidence of HIV in pregnant women implementing PMTCT programms has taken a priority. In countries such as India where the problem is as yet not as menacing as in Africa starting off PMTCT programs and their fast scaling-up has become another form of targeted intervention. Getting the private medical facilities to participate in such initiatives remains a challenge. Description: Prayas is implementing a PMTCT project in private health care facilities in rural as well urban areas of state of Maharashtra in India. The key players involved are 1) Health care providers including the hospital staff, 2) Community, 3) Pregnant women and their families. If the program focuses exclusively on HIV component then there is not only a resistance from all concerned but such programs also tend to disseminate stigma. We have tried to integrate PMTCT as a component of comprehensive antenatal care. We were required to adopt various strategies and modalities to achieve the goal. Lessons learned: 1. Acceptance by health care providers (HCPs) and the communities increased. 2. Number of HCP's caring for HIV +ve women has steadily increased. 3. There was gradual but definate change in the attitudes of HCP's. 4. Messages regarding HIV were better accepted by all, including the HIV negative women and their families. 5. Counselors working in PMTCT, as they could see the positive effect of their work in a relatively short span of time, were better motivated. 6. Better care to HIV positive women ensured increased partner testing, follow-up, better adherence as well as treatment and better care for their children. Recommendations: When rapid up-scaling of PMTCT programs is on the cards instead of approaching the program as a targeted intervention it will be beneficial to integrate it as a comprehensive antenatal care program leading to improved quality of RCH programs.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Africa
• Child
• Comprehensive Health Care
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• India
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Care
• Residence Characteristics
• Rural Population

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0035447

UI: 102279663

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