Empowering Communities to Respond to HIV/AIDS

This report demonstrates that the provision of HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and infant feeding counseling to mothers attending maternal and child health (MCH) clinics are vital components of any mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) reduction strategy, whether or not antiretrovirals (ARVs) are available. It states that these interventions enable mothers to make informed and healthy decisions.

"The study demonstrated that full integration of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and infant feeding counseling (IFC) services into the existing clinic- and community-based MCH services of Ndola was indeed feasible, and local ownership and participation can be achieved through collaborative efforts throughout the project cycle."

Topics included:

• MTCT knowledge improved but remains incomplete;
• breastfeeding practices improved;
• service integration feasible;
• VCT awareness increased but uptake remains low;
• communication about risk reduction needs more emphasis in the community; and
• care and support links remain poor.