Deschamps MD, Grand Pierre GP, Theodore TH, Noel FN, Bonhomme JB, Bois GB, Appolon AA, Nolte CN, Pape PJ; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. TuPeE5381.
GHESKIO, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Issues: The HIV rate in Haiti is the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Transmission is mostly heterosexual. The primary victims are individuals of reproductive age and infants of HIV+ pregnant women. Studies conducted at the GHESKIO Centers, the main VCT center, show a baseline low prevalence (6%) of family planning (FP) users, high rate (30%) of mother to child transmission (MTCT), and rapid progression of HIV disease with poor survival of HIV+ mothers and children. Description: For over 20 years, GHESKIO has developed a comprehensive model of HIV prevention and care consisting of integrating counseling, testing, treatment, and prevention of HIV, opportunistic infections (OI), sexually transmitted infections (STI), and tuberculosis (TB). Since 1996, reproductive health (RH) services were introduced and include information, education and communication (IEC) activities to encourage behavior change and use of FP methods. Services include provision of ARV and infant formula for HIV+ pregnant women and antiretroviral treatment (ART) for mothers with AIDS. Lessons learned: Integration of RH/FP in VCT centers has demonstrated effective outcomes: Behavior change and better health outcomes through IEC, counseling and focus groups. Increased FP use (20%) 75% of HIV+ mothers become FP users More pregnant women seek RH and VCT services, from 7 new women per month in 1999 to more than 120 per month in 2003 Decreased MTCT rate from 30% to 10% Access to ARV treatment improves survival of HIV+ mothers and their children Recommendations: RH and VCT are interconnected and should be offered universally to prevent HIV, heterosexual and MTCT, and unwanted pregnancies. ART for HIV+ mothers should be available to prolong survival of mothers and children. Dual methods of FP should be recommended. Strengthening community involvement and capacity will improve HIV/AIDS/RH perception and services.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Vaccines
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Anti-HIV Agents
- Child
- Counseling
- Family Planning Services
- Female
- HIV
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV Seroprevalence
- Haiti
- Humans
- Infant
- Pregnancy
- Reproductive Medicine
- Research Design
- methods
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102283184
From Meeting Abstracts