Nakyanzi T, Achom M, Matovu J, Musoke PM, Nakabiito C, Guay L, Onyango S, Mmiiro F; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. F11965.

MU-JHU Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda

ISSUES: There are approximately 150,000 to 200,000 HIV infected women giving birth per year in Uganda. PMTCT affordable short ARV regimens are however offered in 6 out of 45 medical districts. Majority of women in Uganda do not have access to PMTCT services. To reach HIV positive women, government plans to integrate PMTCT services into rural health units. DESCRIPTION: Three-day sensitisation workshops for hospital based and public health workers (HWs), and community representatives were held in 8 rural districts. 106 HWs and 39 policy makers attended. The objective was to disseminate, share experiences and discuss feasibility of PMTCT programmes. A pre-workshop evaluation assessed involvement in AIDS work and PMTCT knowledge. Sensitisation covered topics on PMTCT, HIVNET 012 study results, comprehensive antenatal, labour and delivery, postnatal care, voluntary counselling and testing, programming and National policy on PMTCT. Presentation, small group work, and brainstorming sessions were used. LESSONS LEARNT: Policy makers and majority of HWs in those districts were not directly involved in AIDS activities and lacked detailed knowledge about HIV testing technology and PMTCT. Challenges to start PMTCT included inadequate infrastructure, increased workload; insufficient skills and programme records, poor follow up, lack of community and HWs awareness, uncoordinated donations of test kits and materials. The district health teams showed interest and actively made suggestions as to how to integrate PMTCT in their current health systems. RECOMMENDATIONS: There is need to sensitise the remaining districts and educate the communities. Those willing to start, need support in standardising HIV testing algorithms, developing a communication strategy, forming a task force, and supporting individual district situations for integration in an already overwhelmed and overcrowded system.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Child
• Child Welfare
• Counseling
• Disease Transmission, Vertical
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Mothers
• Prenatal Care
• Uganda
• methods
• therapy
• transmission

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0019098

UI: 102256596

From Meeting Abstracts