Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Horizons Program/Population Council - November, 2007
Vaishali S. Mahendra, Rupa Mudoi, Archana Oinam, Venkat Pakkela, Avina Sarna, Sucheta Panda, Ashok Rau, (Late) L. Birendrajit Singh, and Naomi Rutenberg
A total of 40 in-depth interviews and 268 structured interviews were conducted with HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women (0û24 months post-delivery) who had received PPTCT services through the public or private sector in three cities in high-prevalence states (Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Imphal¡located in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Manipur, respectively). In addition, 30 service providers and program managers of public sector and NGO-run PPTCT programs were interviewed.
Key findings:
-- In Bangalore and Hyderabad, the vast majority of women were first tested for HIV as part of antenatal care, whereas in Imphal, most women were first tested in a voluntary counseling and testing center.
-- Obtaining informed consent prior to testing was not uniform across the cities.
-- A very high proportion of husbands had undergone HIV testing.
-- PPTCT service providers rarely provide HIV treatment information and referrals.
-- HIV testing for children is high, but follow-up for treatment is poor.
-- NGOs and families play an important role in providing support to HIV-positive women.
-- A significant proportion of pregnancies among HIV-positive respondents were unplanned.
-- Safe sex during pregnancy is promoted by service providers.
The study indicates that linkages between PPTCT and HIV care services, as well as PPTCT and reproductive health services, are limited. To address these shortcomings, the PPTCT programs studied should strengthen their referral systems to public and private treatment and family planning services, better equip PPTCT providers to inform and counsel women about these topics, and engage NGOs in the community who have outreach services to maintain contact with women over time and link them and their families to a continuum of care. Study results will be used to strengthen links between PPTCT and other services vital to HIV-positive women and their families.
Link: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/IndiaPPTCT.pdf
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