Providing Reproductive Health Module Within HIV Care and Treatment Centre in Kenya

Introduction: The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and Moi University sponsored HIV/AIDs; AMPATH program cares for more than 65,000 adult HIV-infected patients whom 70% are women. RH (Reproductive Health) and HIV clinics run vertically (independently), leading to increased number of hospital appointments and a reduced uptake of RH services by these women. To respond, the program integrated RH services into one of its HIV clinics. Objectives: 1) To describe AMPATH's integration of RH services into HIV care, including: family planning (FP)), cervical cancer screening with acetic acid (VIA), antenatal care, and postnatal care; and 2) To describe the uptake of these services Methods: A descriptive study of the integration between October 1st 2007 and May 31st 2009. HIV-infected women receive same-day 'one-stop-shop' care of RH and HIV care. Results: Of 3,135 female clinic patients, 1,420 (45%) received RH services during this period: 1) All 1,420 were counseled for modern FP methods and screened for STIs, 2) 565 (40%) were provided antenatal services, 3) 169 (12%) were provided postnatal services, and 4) under a research protocol, 150 (11%) were screened for cervical cancer. Conclusion: Integration described here is a successful approach towards addressing RH needs faced by HIV- infected patients