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Postpartum Gap
Accurate testing techniques for infants may inform infant feeding. Studies note that rapid scale up of early infant diagnosis is needed in low-resource settings in order to access treatment and care as soon as possible. [For WHO guidance on HIV testing in infants see: www.who.int/hiv/topics/vct/toolkit/additional_resources/children/en/]
Postpartum
1 study
Interventions are needed to scale up CD4 count screening, especially for pregnant women. A study found that several barriers limited CD4 cell count screening in rural areas, including “availability of laboratories equipped to perform CD4 cell count enumeration, reagent stockouts, and lack of sample transport systems” (Carter et al., 2010: 408). For mothers with CD4 counts above 500, there may be a low risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding, though further research is necessary.
Postpartum
1 study
Additional efforts are needed to provide postpartum women with contraception information and methods so they may space or prevent their next pregnancy and use condoms to reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission upon resumption of sexual activity. [See also %{c:15}] Studies found that women were not given contraceptive counseling or contraceptives postpartum and that transport costs restricted their ability to gain access to their contraceptive method of choice. Studies also found an unmet need for postpartum contraception among women living with HIV. Studies found that sexuality and condom use need to be addressed when sexual activity resumes postpartum. Family planning services are most often not provided postpartum in PMTCT programs. Providers and women did not know that clinically well HIV-positive women can use IUDs. Women lacked the full range of available contraception. No study to date has measured pregnancy intention prospectively in an HIV-discordant couple cohort and measured the effect of desired pregnancy on HIV transmission.
Postpartum
1 study
Increased efforts are needed to retain women on HAART following birth. Studies found that women who initiated ART during pregnancy were more likely to be lost to follow up than non-pregnant women or that pregnant women who were eligible for HAART according to national guidelines were not provided HAART.
Postpartum
1 study
Stigma reduction interventions are needed so that women with HIV can choose replacement feeding, breastfeeding and weaning schedules. Studies found that HIV-positive women feared that if they used infant formula or abruptly weaned, they would be stigmatized for their HIV-positive serostatus.
Postpartum
1 study
HIV-positive mothers, fathers, grandmothers and the larger community need clear, consistent, non-contradictory and nonjudgmental counseling on infant feeding practices. Health care providers need training based on accurate information. Studies found that health care providers gave HIV-positive women conflicting information and that simplified structured counseling tools are needed. Studies found that women reported that providers accused them of killing their infants if they breastfed. Women lack access to infant formula but have been told by providers that it is the only way for their infant to survive. Women were told that breastfeeding is a mode of HIV transmission and exclusive breastfeeding is a mode of prevention. Women fear HIV more than diarrheal disease, even though more deaths occur from diarrheal disease. Women were not given choices. Women did not give providers accurate information on how they were feeding their infant for fear of being denied health care. Women were told to feed their infants formula yet did not have adequate food support, most mothers could not do so with few having an income and most with no access to safe drinking water. Women lacked autonomy to decide infant feeding, which was decided by male partners or grandmothers. "Despite the current WHO recommendations to use extended infant prophylaxis as long as the infant is breastfed, no data are yet available from a clinical trial to confirm effectiveness and safety of this regimen beyond the first six months postpartum" (Taha, 2011: 919).
Postpartum
1 study