Summary

In the Northern region of Cameroon, most pregnant women give birth at home (due to limited access to antenatal care interventions) with the assistance of unskilled birth attendants. Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV is among the key HIV prevention strategies set by the Cameroon National AIDS Control Committee (NACC) to fight HIV/AIDS. Despite efforts being done in the implementation of this strategy, PMTCT implementation remains suboptimal especially in this region endowed with numerous restrictive factors such as: spontaneous terrorist attacks, poor access to healthcare services, low income status, harsh climatic conditions, limited access to electricity, water and sanitation, and bad road network.

M.A.SANTE implemented the AT-PMEL project from April 2018 to April 2020 in Mada and Kousseri Health Districts situated in the lake Chad Basin in the Far North region of Cameroon. HIV screening sessions (targeting mainly pregnant women with the aim to refer them to health facilities for better healthcare) were organised in collaboration with traditional birth attendants and health facilities. PMTCT activities were done in health facilities and communities of Mada and Kousseri Health Districts. An end line survey was equally implemented by collecting and comparing data on some key indicators in the targeted and neighboring control communities.

Activities

• Development of protocol, procedures and tools
• Training of traditional birth assistants, health facility focal points and supervisors
• Field project implementation
• Implementation of end line survey
• Report drafting

Publication:

• In progress