Progress in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection in Ukraine: results from a birth cohort study

Background: Ukraine was the epicentre of the HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe, which has the most rapidly accelerating HIV epidemic world-wide today; national HIV prevalence is currently estimated at 1.6%. Our objective was to evaluate the uptake and effectiveness of interventions for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) over an eight year period within operational settings in Ukraine, within the context of an ongoing birth cohort study.Methods: The European Collaborative Study (ECS) is an ongoing birth cohort study in which HIV-infected pregnant women identified before or during pregnancy or at delivery were enrolled and their infants prospectively followed. Three centres in Ukraine started enrolling in 2000, with a further three joining in September 2006.Results: Of the 3356 women enrolled, 21% (689) reported current or past injecting drug use (IDU). Most women were diagnosed antenatally and of those, the proportion diagnosed in the first/second trimester increased from 47% in 2000/01 (83/178) to 73% (776/1060) in 2006/07 (p < 0.001); intrapartum diagnosis was associated with IDU (Adjusted odds ratio 4.38; 95% CI 3.19-6.02). The percentage of women not receiving any antiretroviral prophylaxis declined from 18% (36/205) in 2001 to 7% in 2007 (61/843) p < 0.001). Use of sdNVP alone substantially declined after 2003, with a concomitant increase in zidovudine prophylaxis. Median antenatal zidovudine prophylaxis duration increased from 24 to 72 days between 2000 and 2007. Elective caesarean section (CS) rates were relatively stable over time and 34% overall. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rates decreased from 15.2% in 2001 (95% CI 10.2-21.4) to 7.0% in 2006 (95% CI 2.6-14.6). In adjusted analysis, MTCT risk was reduced by 43% with elective CS versus vaginal delivery and by 75% with zidovudine versus no prophylaxis.Conclusion: There have been substantial improvements in use of PMTCT interventions in Ukraine, including earlier diagnosis of HIV-infected pregnant women and increasing coverage with antiretroviral prophylaxis and the initial MTCT rate has more than halved. Future research should focus on hard-to-reach populations such as IDU and on missed opportunities for further reducing the MTCT rate

Ukraine: Country Report

The rapid and sustained growth of the international organic trade represents a good opportunity for Ukraine to improve the economic situation of the population in the rural areas and develop the organic sector in Ukraine. During the last years the potential for organic products from Ukraine has not only awakened international buyers, but also stimulated domestic market growth. Ukraine with its 46 million citizens has considerable potential for organic production, processing, trade, and consumption. Currently the assortment of organic products is still very poor. Traders are therefore prompted to import organic products. Ukraine produces mainly organic raw materials for export and the domestic market

STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF USING RED-BROWN CLAY FOR RECLAMATION OF COAL WASTE DUMPS

The coal mining industry, as the source of the main fuel resource and the main energy resource, has particular importance for Ukraine. The largest coal regions of Ukraine include Donetsk, Lviv-Volynskyi and Dnipropetrovsk brown coal ponds. Their total area is 3% of the total area of Ukraine

The Ukraine Crisis and Shift in us Foreign Policy

War in Ukraine and the Russian annexation of Crimea are the events that changed the US policy towards Russia. The events in Ukraine forced the United States to take a closer look at Eastern and Central Europe. The United States’ policy during the Ukrainian crisis has been limited to sanctions and strong statements so far because in Ukraine there is an asymmetry of interests. Ukraine is much more important to Russia than to the United States. The United States may be willing to support the democratic and western aspiration of Ukrainians but will not risk a major conflict with Russia over it. However the crisis in Ukraine is not only about Ukraine or Russia. It is also about US credibility around the world. Both friends and foes are watching closely the American reaction to the situation. That is why the United States has increased its military presence in those NATO countries that share borders with Russia

Ukraine’s place in the world agro-industrial complex

The article deals with the main indicators of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine, its advantages and disadvantages, the place of Ukraine in the world agro-industrial complex. The main ways of development of agrarian and industrial complex of Ukraine in conditions of modern national and world economy are viewed, ways to increase its competitiveness are presented