Abstract
Great progress has been made in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in the past ten years in South Africa, and this is reflected in the achievements of the health services in Khayelitsha. Located 56 km from the centre of Cape Town, Khayelitsha has an estimated population of 500 000, with a 38% unemployment rate. Forty-five per cent of the population live in formal housing. Antenatal (ANC) HIV seroprevalence increased from 19.3% in 2000 to 37% in 2011 and is the highest in the Western Cape.
Highlights
Great progress has been made in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in the past ten years in South Africa, and this is reflected in the achievements of the health services in Khayelitsha
The School of Public Health and Family Medicine at the University of Cape Town was tasked with the monitoring of this pilot, and in September 1999, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) added technical support
As long as I leave after seeing that every women who is eligible is initiated.’
Summary
Great progress has been made in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in the past ten years in South Africa, and this is reflected in the achievements of the health services in Khayelitsha. Later the pilot was extended to a second MOU, and in 1999, 74% of pregnant women agreed to testing and 16% were found to be HIV-infected.[2] Initially, antiretrovirals were provided only to prevent transmission to the child. A clinician at the time recalled, ‘On learning they were HIV-positive, women would commonly ask, “When am I going to die?” All we had to offer was treatment to reduce the risk of the baby being infected, but no treatment to keep the mother alive, to see her child grow up.’. The implementation of the national programme was slow, with wide geographical variation By this time, the Khayelitsha PMTCT sites were well established, and VCT coverage was over 95%.[3]
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