Improving Access to Mother- to- Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programs in Africa: An Ongoing Process. For more than 1. 0 years, pediatric AIDS has been virtually eradicated from Northern developed countries. In Africa, despite technical means and apparent political will, the percentage of pregnant women involved in preventing mother- to- child transmission (PMTCT) interventions is not increasing as fast as public health authorities would expect. There has been real progress during the last years, but these changes are still limited to Southern and East Africa. Eradication of pediatric AIDS in Africa seems a difficult objective to reach in 2. Giving treatment to HIV-positive pregnant women and testing their baby for HIV at birth prevents the mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This 104-page report details the findings of a review of HIV and TB programmes in South Africa by the World Health Organisation, National Dept. So the impact of PMTCT programmes on MTCT rates at the population level is unknown; this is the case for South Africa where PMTCT programmes began in 2002. The HIV and AIDS work of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board is. AWARE’s support promoted the expansion of PMTCT and obstetric programs in West Africa. Study to Determine Impact of Feeding Buddies on Adherence to WHO PMTCT Guidelines in South Africa. Ongoing challenges in providing PMTCT in Kenya and Malawi. 17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Cape Town, abstract ADS161, 2013. Strengthening PMTCT Programs: Prevention First. III Strengthening PMTCT Programs: Prevention First. UNAIDS targeted it. This chapter is based on the combination of a literature review, an analysis of databases and empirical evidence collected during 1. PMTCT implementation, childcare research, and treatment programs in West Africa. One way to progress is to analyze why in some countries, PMTCT programs do not work properly and how in some others it works well. It seems important to analyze the process of PMTCT programs at several levels (site, regional, and national), step- by- step through literature, databases, and qualitative studies. It should be the better way to understand the successes and failures of the programs and how to . It includes analyses of the health system, of health workers expectations and limitations, of mothers. Women can, however, give up or vanish at any time during the whole process. With new recommendations of WHO on breastfeeding and antiretroviral drugs, we can expect a dramatic decrease of postnatal transmission of HIV, but new problems arise, such as difficulties in getting formula milk, when HIV- infected mothers make that choice. This additional step gives many problems as women and exposed children have to be followed longer, and the final diagnosis cannot be given before the end of breastfeeding. UNICEF - Children and HIV and AIDSThe facts In 2. About 9. 00 children were newly infected with HIV per day, over 9. Sub- Saharan Africa. Globally, only 3. HIV in low- and middle- income countries received an HIV test within the first two months of life. Only 2. 8% of children under 1. HIV in low- and middle- income countries received antiretroviral treatment for the virus, as compared with 5. What is the response? Ensuring that no baby is born with HIV is an essential step towards achieving an AIDS- free generation. An intervention known as “prevention of mother- to- child transmission of HIV,” or PMTCT, provides drugs, counselling and psychological support to help mothers safeguard their infants against the virus. Ensuring PMTCT is provided to all women that need it is our most effective way to eliminating new HIV infections among children and keeping their mothers alive by 2. As increasingly more pregnant women living with HIV receive access to antiretroviral treatment, fewer children are being newly infected with HIV. Whether HIV- infected or not, children born to women living with HIV, have increased risk of morbidity and mortality. And poverty, isolation and distance from health care facilities can place them beyond the reach of life- saving care. Partners must also work together so that HIV exposed children are identified early and provided with follow- up treatment, care and support throughout childhood, and into adolescence and adulthood. What is UNICEF doing? By making things as simple as possible, UNICEF aims to reach more women and children, even in a rural clinic with no doctors. Offering an HIV test that gives a rapid result in just a few minutes as part of the first visit for routine antenatal care for pregnant women is a first step. Then, for women who test HIV positive, offering them treatment – “one pill, once per day” – starting as early as possible – is key. This approach puts the health of the mother at the centre. Treatment not only protects the health of the mother living with HIV, but also prevents transmission to her child – in utero, during delivery or during the breastfeeding period. And treatment also prevents sexual transmission among discordant couples – where one partner is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative. To ensure that children living with the virus receive the care they need, UNICEF also works to scale up early infant diagnosis and provide simplified HIV treatment for children. To do this, UNICEF is focused on integrating HIV care, treatment and support for women living with HIV and their families into strengthened antenatal, postnatal and child health platforms including at the local level.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
November 2016
Categories |