141st APHA Annual Meeting

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285258
Improving access to PMTCT and ART services in hawassa health center,Ethiopia

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Amsalu Girma, Bsc.in Public Health, MPH , SNNP Regional Office, Abt Associates Inc., Hawassa, Ethiopia
Background: HIV infection is a serious public health problem. Ethiopia is one of the seriously affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa.The prevalence in Hawassa health center using antenatal care based sentinel surveillance was 5% in 2007. ART and PMTCT Programs are among the key national HIV/AIDS intervention strategies which are underutilized in health facilities. Objective: The main objective of the study was to assess the situation of ART and PMTCT services so as to identify gaps and suggest practically possible solutions. Methods: Facility based cross-sectional survey was conducted retrospectively and prospectively using quantitative as well qualitative methods. The study took place in Hawassa Health Center found in Hawassa City, Ethiopia. The time of study was from November 17, 2008 to February 1, 2009.The study subjects were patients who got HIV care and pregnant mothers who attended PMTCT service. Descriptive statistics were used to describe and summarize findings of the study. Results: The records of 51 patients on ART and 123 patients on pre-ART were reviewed. In addition, 3 years data of PMTCT were reviewed. There were 6(11.3%) patients lost to follow up and 1(1.9%) had died. Out of 514 positive cases tested in the health center, only 243(47.3%) were linked to chronic HIV care. 37.7% and 52.8% of ANC attended mothers received pre-test counseling on HIV in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Conclusions: The commencement of PMTCT and ART service makes the services accessible. However, the identified problems have affected the service delivery. Therefore, implementation of the proposed interventions was recommended.

Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economics

Learning Objectives:
Identify potential problems that affect access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment services and describe the mechanisms that can be applied to improve the uptake of PMTCT/ART services.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a team leader in undertaking joint supportive supervision of HIV prevention and control interventions in health facilities.I have been involved in facilitating in-service trainings on HIV/AIDS intervention strategies for health professionals.I have also a profound experience working as supervisor of mobile voluntary HIV counseling and testing service for most at risk populations in the community.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.