Integrated Pediatric HIV and Child Health Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: Discussion Brief
There is a growing recognition of the need for greater alignment between HIV testing and treatment and existing maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services to achieve the dual goals of ending pediatric AIDS and improving child survival. In many countries, the integration of pediatric HIV and child health platforms and interventions is already happening, and while the existing evidence-base is limited, several studies and reviews suggest that HIV and MNCH service integration is feasible and can improve various health and behavioral outcomes. In order to enhance understanding of current efforts to deliver integrated pediatric HIV and child health services, USAID's Africa Bureau and the ASH project conducted research to produce a mapping of existing initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. [Download]
There is a growing recognition of the need for greater alignment between HIV testing and treatment and existing maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services to achieve the dual goals of ending pediatric AIDS and improving child survival. In many countries, the integration of pediatric HIV and child health platforms and interventions is already happening, and while the existing evidence-base is limited, several studies and reviews suggest that HIV and MNCH service integration is feasible and can improve various health and behavioral outcomes. In order to enhance understanding of current efforts to deliver integrated pediatric HIV and child health services, USAID's Africa Bureau and the ASH project conducted research to produce a mapping of existing initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. [Download]
Regional Actors Addressing HIV in Africa: Comparative Advantages, Challenges and Opportunities
Source: African Strategies for Health
Regional bodies are active contributors to the development of Africa’s health sector. In the region that is home to more than 70% of all people living with HIV, they have a particularly important role to play in supporting global HIV initiatives such as the U.S. Government’s call for an AIDS-Free Generation, the Global Plan to Eliminate New HIV Infections in Children and Keeping their Mothers Alive, and Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths. Understanding how regional actors engage in HIV-related work, as well as their comparative advantages and challenges, will enable governments, policymakers, donors, implementers, and civil society to partner with them effectively to end preventable child and maternal deaths and prevent new HIV infections.
[Download Technical Brief]
En français [Les Acteurs Régionaux Face au VIH en Afrique: Avantages comparatifs, défis et opportunités]
Visit the online database to browse through more than 120 regional organizations working in health in Africa. >>Database
Source: African Strategies for Health
Regional bodies are active contributors to the development of Africa’s health sector. In the region that is home to more than 70% of all people living with HIV, they have a particularly important role to play in supporting global HIV initiatives such as the U.S. Government’s call for an AIDS-Free Generation, the Global Plan to Eliminate New HIV Infections in Children and Keeping their Mothers Alive, and Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths. Understanding how regional actors engage in HIV-related work, as well as their comparative advantages and challenges, will enable governments, policymakers, donors, implementers, and civil society to partner with them effectively to end preventable child and maternal deaths and prevent new HIV infections.
[Download Technical Brief]
En français [Les Acteurs Régionaux Face au VIH en Afrique: Avantages comparatifs, défis et opportunités]
Visit the online database to browse through more than 120 regional organizations working in health in Africa. >>Database
Regional Minimum Standards and Brand for HIV and other Health Services along the Road Transport Corridors in the SADC Region
Source: Southern African Development Community
Expanded mobility and cross-border trading are significant drivers in the transmission of communicable diseases and have contributed to increased HIV prevalence rates among key populations and communities living in Eastern and Southern Africa. To support a strengthened and coordinated response to the unique public health challenges this presents, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), approved and released the Regional Minimum Standards and Brand for HIV and other Health Services along the Road Transport Corridors in the SADC Region (RMSB) in November 2015.
The RMSB outline a minimum package of services and standards for service delivery to more effectively target high-risk geographic areas and key populations, such as long distance truck drivers and sex workers. The RMSB define roles, responsibilities, and management mechanisms to improve the quality and reach of current prevention and health services for HIV and other important health conditions, including tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and sexual and reproductive health services including family planning.
The standards are endorsed by Member State Ministries of Health and Transport, and represent collaborative partnership through a highly consultative process involving key stakeholders and technical experts from Member States, development partners, United Nations agencies, regional transport federations, worker groups, regional and national associations of sex workers, and implementing partners that provide health services to long distance truck drivers, sex workers, and communities living along road transport corridors in the region. Catalytic technical and financial support was provided in partnership by USAID's Africa Bureau and their project African Strategies for Health (ASH), and USAID's Regional HIV/AIDS Program and their project, Building Local Capacity for Delivery of HIV Services in Southern Africa (BLC), both implemented by Management Sciences for Health.
Download the RMSB [in English] [French] [Portuguese]
Executive Summary [Download]
Innovative HIV Prevention Practices and Programmes for Long Distance Truck Drivers and Sex Workers: Global Lessons and Opportunities in the SADC Region [Download]
Visit the SADC Website
Source: Southern African Development Community
Expanded mobility and cross-border trading are significant drivers in the transmission of communicable diseases and have contributed to increased HIV prevalence rates among key populations and communities living in Eastern and Southern Africa. To support a strengthened and coordinated response to the unique public health challenges this presents, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), approved and released the Regional Minimum Standards and Brand for HIV and other Health Services along the Road Transport Corridors in the SADC Region (RMSB) in November 2015.
The RMSB outline a minimum package of services and standards for service delivery to more effectively target high-risk geographic areas and key populations, such as long distance truck drivers and sex workers. The RMSB define roles, responsibilities, and management mechanisms to improve the quality and reach of current prevention and health services for HIV and other important health conditions, including tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and sexual and reproductive health services including family planning.
The standards are endorsed by Member State Ministries of Health and Transport, and represent collaborative partnership through a highly consultative process involving key stakeholders and technical experts from Member States, development partners, United Nations agencies, regional transport federations, worker groups, regional and national associations of sex workers, and implementing partners that provide health services to long distance truck drivers, sex workers, and communities living along road transport corridors in the region. Catalytic technical and financial support was provided in partnership by USAID's Africa Bureau and their project African Strategies for Health (ASH), and USAID's Regional HIV/AIDS Program and their project, Building Local Capacity for Delivery of HIV Services in Southern Africa (BLC), both implemented by Management Sciences for Health.
Download the RMSB [in English] [French] [Portuguese]
Executive Summary [Download]
Innovative HIV Prevention Practices and Programmes for Long Distance Truck Drivers and Sex Workers: Global Lessons and Opportunities in the SADC Region [Download]
Visit the SADC Website
Reducing Maternal Mortality for HIV-Infected Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Source: African Strategies for Health
This technical brief summarizes the findings of three systematic reviews on interventions to reduce maternal mortality in HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women, individual and contextual barriers and enablers for ART use among this key population, and the health system barriers and enablers for ART use by these women. The brief outlines select recommendations made in the systematic reviews for leveraging interventions to reduce maternal mortality and to address individual, contextual, and health system factors that influence ART initiation, adherence, and retention. [Download]
Source: African Strategies for Health
This technical brief summarizes the findings of three systematic reviews on interventions to reduce maternal mortality in HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women, individual and contextual barriers and enablers for ART use among this key population, and the health system barriers and enablers for ART use by these women. The brief outlines select recommendations made in the systematic reviews for leveraging interventions to reduce maternal mortality and to address individual, contextual, and health system factors that influence ART initiation, adherence, and retention. [Download]
A Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce Maternal Mortality among HIV-Infected Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Source: African Strategies for Health
HIV-related maternal mortality is high in populations with high prevalence rates and HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women experience increased mortality compared to their uninfected peers. Scaling up HIV-related treatment options and expanding program reach for these women is likely to decrease maternal mortality. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from interventions which directly reduce mortality among this population. [Download]
Source: African Strategies for Health
HIV-related maternal mortality is high in populations with high prevalence rates and HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women experience increased mortality compared to their uninfected peers. Scaling up HIV-related treatment options and expanding program reach for these women is likely to decrease maternal mortality. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from interventions which directly reduce mortality among this population. [Download]
A Systematic Review of Individual and Contextual Factors Affecting ART Initiation, Adherence, and Retention for HIV-Infected Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Source: African Strategies for Health; Published in PLoS ONE
This systematic review synthesized evidence of individual and contextual factors that inhibit or enable antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, adherence, and retention among HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women. Factors in the Individual, interpersonal, community, and structural levels of influence are identified and areas of intervention needs for this population are suggested and discussed. [Download]
Source: African Strategies for Health; Published in PLoS ONE
This systematic review synthesized evidence of individual and contextual factors that inhibit or enable antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, adherence, and retention among HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women. Factors in the Individual, interpersonal, community, and structural levels of influence are identified and areas of intervention needs for this population are suggested and discussed. [Download]
A Systematic Review of Health System Barriers and Enablers for ART for HIV-Infected Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Source: African Strategies for Health; Published in PLoS ONE
HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women are among those most consistently engaged with the health system, yet more than one third of this population does not receive treatment. This systematic review synthesized evidence on health systems factors that affect ART initiation, retention in care, and long-term adherence in HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women. Key health system barriers and enablers of ART are categorized into five themes (models of care, service delivery, resource constraints, patient/health system engagement, and interventions to improve maternal ART outcomes) and key knowledge gaps and research priorities are identified. [Download]
Source: African Strategies for Health; Published in PLoS ONE
HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women are among those most consistently engaged with the health system, yet more than one third of this population does not receive treatment. This systematic review synthesized evidence on health systems factors that affect ART initiation, retention in care, and long-term adherence in HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women. Key health system barriers and enablers of ART are categorized into five themes (models of care, service delivery, resource constraints, patient/health system engagement, and interventions to improve maternal ART outcomes) and key knowledge gaps and research priorities are identified. [Download]