Report on the external mid-term, formative evaluation of the Optimizing HIV Treatment Access (OHTA) for pregnant and breastfeeding women Initiative in Uganda, Malawi, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
PMTCT & Paediatric HIV/TB Lessons & Results from Using New WHO-UNICEF HIV-Adapted Community Materials
"Together We Can Improve"
A case study on joint community-facility review of PMTCT dashboards in Malawi
Humanitarian emergencies in countries with a high HIV disease burden can cause considerable PMTCT antiretroviral treatment (ART) interruption. The risk of drug resistance emerging is increased, efficacy of treatment compromised and the effective scale-up of lifelong ART for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV is impeded. Therefore, strategies to ensure the uninterrupted supply of antiretrovirals for PMTCT during crises are needed. This paper highlights lessons learned from PMTCT implementation in emergencies based on reported literature, key informant interviews, and recommendations made. The review focuses on delivering ART for PMTCT.
A robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system is a key component of a strong health system. With the current WHO recommendation of lifelong ART for all pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, outcomes (including maternal survival and final infant HIV status) require monitoring through longitudinal data systems complemented with regular cohort analyses and enhanced monitoring. Additionally, as we move toward the need for more strategic policies and programming to garner system and resource efficiencies, M&E systems need to be designed to be able to inform differences arising from age, sex, and geographic trends as well as identify weaknesses such as sub-optimal commodity supply and testing quality.
In 2015, the IATT monitoring and evaluation working group (MEWG) finalized and disseminated the IATT B+ M&E Framework. One mechanism used to disseminate was to convene a 15 Country Consultation that was determined as follows: the eight 2015 priority countries (Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda & Zambia) that contributed 70% of new infections among the Global Plan countries in 2013, three countries (Malawi, Rwanda and Zimbabwe) representing best practices from the region and four countries (Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC and Namibia) who are in the process of reviewing their M&E systems for B+ roll out.
One Of The Main Reasons? Dad's Role
This case study is intended for programme managers and health professionals interested in learning about male involvement in the context of PMTCT programmes. It reviews a multi-faceted intervention launched by the Optimizing HIV Treatment Access for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women (OHTA) to increase male involvement in three regions in Uganda (East Central, North East, and South West). By implementing both community and facility-based activities focused on strengthening male involvement as part of a comprehensive PMTCT strategy, the programme aims to strengthen support for male participation in antenatal care (ANC), HIV testing, and HIV treatment.
This report discusses how community-facility linkages can be used to support the scale up of lifelong treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV. It offers a conceptual framework and describes eleven promising practices associated with increased service uptake, adherence or retention along the continuum of care.
