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| Location: | 2nd Floor, Wing B, Jumuia Place, Lenana Road
P.O. Box 22591-00400, Nairobi |
| GSM: | 0722 203-199, 0733 363-630 |
| Telephone: | + 254-020-2714346 / 2714354 / 2714355 |
| Telephone: | + 254-020-2446670/1 |
| Fax: | + 254-020-2714342 |
| Email: | info@psikenya.org |
Health Services Promotion
Situation AnalysisIt is estimated that infant and children under 15 years account for 16% of all new HIV infections, mainly due to Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT). Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) has become a priority for the Government of Kenya in an endeavour to reduce HIV-related infant and child mortality. HIV testing and Counseling (HTC) of pregnant women serves as an important entry point to care and treatment for HIV positive mothers and their families.Antenatal clinics (ANC) provide the greatest opportunity to carry out HTC on expectant mothers. HIV testing among pregnant women is currently at 70.5%. Of the HIV pregnant women, 33% access family planning services, 72.3% have access to ARV while 49% of infants born to HIV positive mothers are on ARV. Some 32% of women exclusively breastfeed their children for six months according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS, 2008/09). Main challenges facing successful implementation of PMTCT include:
PSI/Kenya Programme Objectives
About the ProgrammePast media campaigns implemented by PSI/Kenya sought to increase knowledge and awareness MTCT is preventable as well as advising expectant mothers to ask all questions related to MTCT at the ANC. The first campaign to increase awareness that MTCT was preventable was implemented in 2004/2005 while a follow up campaign called Uliza targeted both men and women in peri-urban and rural areas encouraging couple HTC and male involvement in PMTCT.A survey carried out by PSI/Kenya in 2005 showed that the campaigns had contributed to an increase in male partner support among those who had been exposed to it versus those that had not been exposed. In 2007, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded AIDS Population and Health Integrated Assistance II Health Communications and Marketing (HCM) project, PSI/Kenya realised that there was high awareness among the general population that MTCT was preventable, and developed a different approach to communicate some of the barriers to PMTCT service uptake through the edutainment approach. The programme called ‘SIRI’ which used multi-media channels to address key health issues was developed. Among the messages promoted for PMTCT, was ANC attendance, male partner support and the need for HTC among pregnant women and their partners. The radio communication was interactive with an expert on air every two weeks to address issues raised by the audience. |
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