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Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV

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FHI has supported prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) since 2000 through program implementation; technical assistance; research; and the development of tools, strategies, and technical documents. 

FHI takes a comprehensive approach to PMTCT and endorses the WHO and UNAIDS four-pronged framework to 1) prevent primary HIV infections, 2) prevent unintended pregnancies among HIV-positive women, 3) prevent transmission of HIV from HIV-positive women to their infants, and 4) provide care for HIV-positive mothers and their infants and families.

FHI's approach is guided by the belief that prevention must go beyond specific PMTCT interventions and be placed within the context of a comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and support program. Comprehensive PMTCT includes identifying and strengthening referral systems to respond to the care and support needs of HIV-infected mothers and their families.

FHI is currently supporting PMTCT programs in more than 20 countries, and offers a range of services to country programs at numerous project sites. These services include

  • conducting baseline assessments, which may include formative research
  • delivering a PMTCT "package" that includes information on HIV education and counseling, HIV counseling and testing (CT), short-course antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for mothers and infants, optimal delivery practices, counseling and support for optimal infant feeding, STI management, condom promotion, and follow-up care and support for women and children
  • integrating PMTCT programs into existing maternal and child health clinics (perhaps the most well-attended primary healthcare clinics in resource-constrained settings)
  • training health personnel in CT, ARV counseling, and infant-feeding counseling
  • advocating increased access to HIV diagnostics for infants as a way to improve infant-feeding decisions in breastfeeding communities
  • promoting male involvement
  • addressing PMTCT in the context of a comprehensive HIV program
  • supporting referral linkages to provide care and support for the woman and her infant
  • funding community mobilization to support HIV prevention and care programs and reduce stigma
  • supporting monitoring and evaluation, including quality assurance measures for project sites