Turning The Tide In The Care of Women Living

with HIVWomen’s Networking Zone 2012

Women for Positive Action is supported by a grant from Abbott

Women for Positive Action is an educational program funded and initiated by Abbott Laboratories

Angelina Namiba & Ophelia Haanyama Ørum

Women for Positive Action

Empowering, educating and supporting women living with HIV

Women for Positive Action is an educational program

funded and initiated by Abbott Laboratories

Women for Positive Action

Women for Positive Action mission

Women for Positive Action website

• www.womenforpositiveaction.org

• Currently available in:• English, French, Portuguese, Italian, German,

Romanian, Spanish

• Educational toolkits currently available in:• English, French, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese

Overview of Women for Positive Action activities

• Website

• Educational slide kits

• To create learning opportunities for clinicians and

community leaders to support women

• International Women’s Day activities 2012

• Country specific activities

• Local implementation

Objectives of this session

• Angelina Namiba & Ophelia Haanyama Ørum from the Women for Positive Action faculty will discuss a selection of challenges facing a younger woman living with HIV

~ Giving insight into practical advice to help improve the lives of women living with HIV

~ Highlighting what is known and not known about specific issues in HIV for women

Case Study

Mary Anne, a younger woman living with HIV

Case notes: Mary Anne

Profile• 23 year old woman presents to

the STD clinic for screening

SEROLOGYHIV Pos•CD4 380/mm3•Viral load 68,000 copies/ml

History•Migrant from west Africa•History of sexual assault (2 years ago)•Diagnosed with syphilis •New partner informed her he had recently tested HIV negative

Audience discussion

What do you think Mary Anne’s initial reaction to her HIV diagnosis was?

Case notes: Mary Anne

Other factors•Reports poor sleeping, panic attacks and mood swings

Audience discussion

What would you suggest next?

1.Talk through her diagnosis and provide suggestions for managing HIV

2.Assess symptoms further with a psychological screening tool and advise her to start pharmacotherapy for her mood symptoms

3.Refer her to a psychologist for further investigation

4.Provide peer support

Case notes: Mary Anne

Other factors•Reports poor sleeping, panic attacks and mood swings •Uncertain about pregnancy at the moment•Keen to start treatment

Case notes: Mary Anne

Other factors•Reports poor sleeping, panic attacks and mood swings •Uncertain about pregnancy at the moment•Keen to adapt to treatment•She is reluctant to tell her new partner about her diagnosis as she feels he would leave her

Audience discussion

How would you advise her?

What support is available for women who want to disclose?

Case notes: Mary Anne

1 year later•HIV viral load = undetectable•Syphilis infection cleared•She is adjusting to her diagnosis and treatment •She has disclosed to her partner who is supportive

•She is now pregnant

Case notes: Mary Anne

A baby boy is born•Baby is HIV-negative

•Mary Anne wishes to breastfeed

•She is concerned her community will identify her as HIV positive if she does not breastfeed ...... she insists

Audience discussion

What would you suggest to Mary Anne regarding her desire to breastfeeding?

Case notes: Mary Anne

Follow-up visit• Mary Anne decided to formula feed her baby

• She is continuing ART and her psychological symptoms are monitored on an ongoing basis

www.womenforpositiveaction.org

Women for Positive Action is supported by a grant from Abbott

www.womenforpositiveaction.org

@WFPA_HIV

Women for Positive Action is an educational program funded and initiated by Abbott Laboratories