Uganda: A Holistic Approach To The Prevention Of Mother To Child Transimission Of HIV

BACKGROUND: In Uganda, with over 90% of the new infections among children due to mother to child transmission, effective implementation of prevention of maternal to child transmission (PMTCT) is crucial. THE PROJECT. Plan International, a child-centered humanitarian organization, implemented a 4-year comprehensive PMTCT project in the rural Tororo District (tot pop 170,000). The target population was 1,500 HIV positive pregnant mothers and their families. The project objective was to increase the uptake of PMTCT by including ART for the mother, patient care and support, food security and income generation initiatives for the affected families. RESULTS. 20,229 pregnant mothers were tested for HIV of whom 1,535 were positive (7.6%) and 744 clients were put on antiretroviral therapy. Seventy two percent of the HIV positive pregnant women disclosed their HIV sero-status to their husbands; adherence to ART was greater than 95% and the rate of vertical transmission reduced from 30% to 7.0%. Moreover, 25 HIV Post-test clubs were formed and their organizational capacity enhanced; almost 2000 clients in 66 associations participated in income generation initiatives and 32,911 individuals underwent voluntary counselling and testing. HIV-affected families now have a better capacity to meet the transport costs and purchase of medications for opportunistic infections. These successes are attributed to psychosocial support by social workers, the inclusion of ART with volunteers directly observing treatment and the establishment of food and economic security interventions. CONCLUSION: These lessons are also being shared with the government and with other NGOs for potential replication.