Marseille 2007
Marseille 2007
Abstract book
Go Back

Abstract #513  -  PMTCT in urban Vietnam and Indonesia, a comparative analysis of the demand for and acceptance of HIV testing.
Session:
  48.4: Behaviour and prevention (Parallel) on Wednesday @ 08.30-10.30 in CP Chaired by Michael Ross, Marie Preau
Authors:
  Presenting Author:   Ms Pauline Oosterhoff - Amsterdam School for Social Research, Viet Nam
 
  Additional Authors:   
Aim:
As part of a wider assessment of PMTCT programs, we aimed at describing testing practice of health workers and perceptions of pregnant HIV+ and HIV- women on testing in two urban sites in Vietnam (Hanoi and Thai Nguyen) and Indonesia (Jakarta and Karawang).
 
Method / Issue:
We interviewed 100 health workers involved in PMTCT and 50 pregnant women as well as family members in each country, and conducted key informant interviews with PLWA, and health policy makers. We also did observations at the testing sites.
 
Results / Comments:
The selected sites are best-cases in the sense that PMTCT was implemented in a relative early stage in these sites. We found that in theVietnamese sites, testing coverage was high, and conducted by the government ante-natal care (ANC) services. In Indonesia, though the government has plans to implement PMTCT, in practice pregnant women were not yet being tested by government health services. An NGO fills the gap, but coverage is low. In the Vietnamese sites, testing is routine, with opt-out opportunities. In the Indonesian sites testing follows the VCT model. In both countries we found that demand for and acceptance of HIV testing in pregnancy is high. However HIV pregnant positive women in Vietnam were concerned about the way they had been notified about the test results. It is seen to increase stigma. In Vietnam, abortion is legal, but testing is generally conducted too late in pregnancy to allow women to have this choice. In the Indonesia study sites, abortion illegal, and testing is done at intervals in communities, and women who happen to be pregnant when the mobile clinics arrive, are tested, independent of the stage of their pregnancy. Health workers in both countries are in favour of HIV testing of pregnant women. They want to know if their patients are positive, so they can protect themselves.
 
Discussion:
In the conclusion of the paper, based on our findings, we reflect on the pros and cons of the different ways of conducting HIV testing in PMTCT sites (routine versus VCT). In these low HIV prevalence settings (around 1% of pregnant women are HIV+), and relative high stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, we found high demand for and acceptance of testing among pregnant women. Routine testing is valued in Vietnam, except by HIV+pregnant women who are not satisfied by the way they were informed about their test results.
 
Go Back

  Disclaimer   |   T's & C's   |   Copyright Notice    www.AIDSImpact.com www.AIDSImpact.com