Factors related to HIV counseling of TB personnel working at government hospitals in Thailand

Abstract

Background: HIV/AIDS contributes to a disproportionate buren of maternal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. In generalized HIV pidemic settings especiallywhere strong programmes are in place o reduce infant transmission of HIV, antenatal clinics (ANC) proide agoodopportunity to linkmotherswhoareHIV infected toHIV are and treatment services. This study assessed the care provided o HIV infected pregnant women attending public sector primary ealth care (PHC) clinics. Methods: As part of an annual anonymous survey undertaken rom October to December 2009 at the 7 PHC clinics in the ulindlela sub-district, all clinic records were reviewed for covrage of HIV counselling and testing (HCT), compliance with the outh African government’s requirement for CD4 cell counts and RT provision on all newly diagnosed HIV positive mothers. Results: A total of 410 records were reviewed. Of these 384 93.6%) received information on HCT services in place at the clinic nd374 (97.4%) agreed tohave anHIV test. Of the10womendeclinng, 6 (1.6%) had known their HIV test result and 4 were on ART. he prevalence of HIV infection was 37.7% (141/374). Only 88/141 62.4%) of HIV infected mothers had a CD4 cell count result availble, 67% of whom had CD4 cell counts <350 cells/mm3 and by urrent South African guidelines eligible for ART initiation. Howver, only 4/88 had been initiated on ART. Conclusion: Missing CD4 cell count results and delays in ART nitiation in eligibleHIV infectedpregnantwomen represent a huge issed opportunity to impact onmaternalmorbidity andmortality atterns in these settings.