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Abstract
PMTCT in rural/primitive regions in West Africa: breastfeeding; challenges and prospects
Udah F.1, Duah A.A.2, The Redeemers Network' Africa
Objectives: Evaluating implementation of PMTCT in rural parts of underdeveloped countries with fragile and primitive infrastructures, inadequate human and financial resources, mechanised with illiteracy, poverty, social-cultural factors, etc.
Methods: PMTCT was established in three rural communities in Anambra (Nigeria), Tamale (Ghana) & Locosa (Benin). HIV positive women were counselled and enrolled during antenatal in the programme at the community hospitals. Interviewed through well thought-out questionnaires during 96hrs of delivery to survey their infant feeding alternatives, re-interviewed about 8 weeks postnatal determining eventual feeding exercises, confront faced for not breastfeeding. A large fraction of women also interviewed, as determining challenges faced as resolutions not to breastfed were reached. Data collected were fed into the management information system.
Results: 245 women were studied. Nevirapine uptake was 84% and 89% for mothers and infants respectively. 12% of women had secondary and post secondary education. 34 women recorded previous spontaneous abortion and child death, 79 notified their spouses of HIV status; of these, 44 women (55%) were supported. Sero-discordance rate was 84%. 86 women status unknown. 52 women practiced mixed feeding. From non-breastfeeding (instant formular) subset, 101 women suffered stigmatization. 54 women reported great pressure from community at infant naming ceremony. About 39 women had CD4+ count of less than 200/ml at delivery. Early transmission rate was 8.6%.
Conclusions: Feeding of HIV exposed infants becomes a great challenge in a culture where breastfeeding is a tradition. Despite high premium placed on breastfeeding in these regions, if adequately counselled, HIV/AIDS women are likely to adopt formula feeding for their infants. Antenatal coverage is low, requires rapid expansion. The significantly high ratio of women with low CD4+ count supports the call for a switch from Nevirapine monotherapy to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) and its integration into ART programmes in underdeveloped countries.
4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention
Abstract no.
CDB041
Suggested Citation
"UdahF., et al.
PMTCT in rural/primitive regions in West Africa: breastfeeding; challenges and prospects.
:
4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention:
Abstract no.
CDB041"
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