Conference abstract
Community directed interventions for the effective use of PMTCT, PECPA in Dschang health district
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2024:23(58).26
Nov 2024.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2024.23.58.2778
Archived on: 26 Nov 2024
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: HEDECS, community-directed intervention, prevention of mother to child transmission, Dschang
Poster
Community directed interventions for the effective use of PMTCT, PECPA in Dschang health district
Christelle Djousse Kenfo1,&, Nancy Bolima1, Veronique Manfo2, Paul Sayindo3
1Health Development Consultancy Services (HEDECS), Dschang, Cameroon, 2District Focal Point PMTCT, Dschang Health District, Dschang, Cameroon, 3Regional Focal Point PMTCT, West Regional Delegation of Public Health, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: in Cameroon, the estimated rate of HIV transmission from mother to child at 12 months including breastfeeding remains high (15%). Several initiatives resulting from national and international solidarity have been undertaken in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Community mobilization active search and referral is one of these initiatives. Our objective was to generate increased demand for and improve uptake of HIV care and services by HIV+ pregnant/breastfeeding women, exposed children, HIV+ children, and adolescents, to achieve the 95- 95-95 of PMTCT & PECPA.
Methods: it was a community-based intervention in the health Area of Fometa carried out from December 2022 to December 2023. we started by getting authorization from the Health District and the Chief of the Health Area of Fometa. We worked in close collaboration with the neighborhood leaders. Activities were carried out by HEDECS mentors who are members of the community. Our activities included educational talks, HIV testing and distribution of condoms and lubricants; active search and referral of pregnant/breastfeeding women, exposed children, and those lost to follow-up. our activities were supported by BID through UNICEF.
Results: ten (10) mentors were trained for this intervention; they made 960 descents on the field. 7248 people were touched by educational talks (3080 (42,5%) men and 4168 women (57,5%);1452 people were tested in the community and 11 (0,7%) were HIV-positive (4 pregnant women, 5 women, 2 men); they were all referred and initiated on treatment in Annex Regional hospital and Ad-Lucem Foundation of Dschang. We also found and referred 191 pregnant women who had not started prenatal visits, 61 breastfeeding women who had given birth out of a health facility; 2 exposed children (1 month and 2 months), and 2 lost to follow-up.
Conclusion: active search for lost to follow-up in the community using Community Health Workers is a strategy that enables the reconnection of patients to PMTCT care. This strategy has helped to reconnect a large proportion of women, teenagers, and children to treatment in the Dschang Health District.
Community directed interventions for the effective use of PMTCT, PECPA in Dschang health district
Christelle Djousse Kenfo1,&, Nancy Bolima1, Veronique Manfo2, Paul Sayindo3
1Health Development Consultancy Services (HEDECS), Dschang, Cameroon, 2District Focal Point PMTCT, Dschang Health District, Dschang, Cameroon, 3Regional Focal Point PMTCT, West Regional Delegation of Public Health, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: in Cameroon, the estimated rate of HIV transmission from mother to child at 12 months including breastfeeding remains high (15%). Several initiatives resulting from national and international solidarity have been undertaken in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Community mobilization active search and referral is one of these initiatives. Our objective was to generate increased demand for and improve uptake of HIV care and services by HIV+ pregnant/breastfeeding women, exposed children, HIV+ children, and adolescents, to achieve the 95- 95-95 of PMTCT & PECPA.
Methods: it was a community-based intervention in the health Area of Fometa carried out from December 2022 to December 2023. we started by getting authorization from the Health District and the Chief of the Health Area of Fometa. We worked in close collaboration with the neighborhood leaders. Activities were carried out by HEDECS mentors who are members of the community. Our activities included educational talks, HIV testing and distribution of condoms and lubricants; active search and referral of pregnant/breastfeeding women, exposed children, and those lost to follow-up. our activities were supported by BID through UNICEF.
Results: ten (10) mentors were trained for this intervention; they made 960 descents on the field. 7248 people were touched by educational talks (3080 (42,5%) men and 4168 women (57,5%);1452 people were tested in the community and 11 (0,7%) were HIV-positive (4 pregnant women, 5 women, 2 men); they were all referred and initiated on treatment in Annex Regional hospital and Ad-Lucem Foundation of Dschang. We also found and referred 191 pregnant women who had not started prenatal visits, 61 breastfeeding women who had given birth out of a health facility; 2 exposed children (1 month and 2 months), and 2 lost to follow-up.
Conclusion: active search for lost to follow-up in the community using Community Health Workers is a strategy that enables the reconnection of patients to PMTCT care. This strategy has helped to reconnect a large proportion of women, teenagers, and children to treatment in the Dschang Health District.
