Janice Lachhman, MPH, Nicole Marie Headley, MPH, Hazel Emily Hooker, MPH, Lynda Humaran, MPH, and Chandria Denise Jones, MPH. Robert R. Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, VH 216, Miami, FL 33199, (305) 348-4903, jlach001@fiu.edu

Background: Stigmatization is a dynamic process that arises from the perception that there has been a violation of a set of shared attitudes, beliefs, and values. HIV related stigma adds to the public health crisis because it has a variety of negative consequences on test and health seeking behaviors, willingness to disclose serostatus, quality of healthcare received and social support. In a resource poor setting like Rwanda, Africa, stigma affects mother-to-transmission patterns by preventing infected women from coming forward for diagnosis and impairing their ability to access care for themselves and their dependents. Objectives: 1) Describe and study stigmatization variables that contribute to the acceptability of a pMTCT program. 2) Critique research pertinent to the occurrence of MTCT 3) Propose modification to the existing research designs that can be implemented in a pMTCT program. Methods: Peer reviewed articles and conference papers were evaluated. Personal interviews and focus groups centered on the occurrence of MTCT were conducted. Conclusion: As public health professionals working in a resource poor setting, we can design interventions that include current information and counseling techniques that promote coping skills of women living with HIV/AIDS in order to deal with stigmatizing attitudes and increase individuals’ acceptance of a pMTCT program.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Describe stigmatization variables that contribute and affect pMTCT programs in a resource poor setting. 2)Apply information learned about stigmatization in a resource poor setting to current and future research designs.

Keywords: International Reproductive Health, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.