Assessing the potential demand for and effectiveness of integrating STI/HIV management services with Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council\u27s clinic-based family planning services

HIV/AIDS is a threat to individual lives and the national economies of many sub-Saharan African countries, despite efforts to contain its spread. The region also suffers from high levels of other reproductive tract infections (RTIs), some of which increase the risk of sexual transmission of HIV. The control of RTIs is therefore seen not only as an important reproductive health care strategy, but as a key strategy in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Most national health care programs in the region are actively seeking cost-effective ways of implementing an RTI management program that would reduce and prevent RTIs and HIV. To date, most emphasis has been placed on managing RTI/HIV within high-risk groups, but many programs are now trying to reach a bigger proportion of the at-risk population through integrating RTI/HIV management services into existing maternal and child health/family planning (MCH/FP) programs. As noted in this baseline survey report, a variety of methods were used to collect and synthesize information that could be used in developing an appropriate and cost-effective approach to the integration of RTI/HIV within FP services

Demand for and cost-effectiveness of integrating RTI/HIV services with clinic-based family planning services in Zimbabwe

The current spread of HIV/AIDS poses a major threat to individual lives and national economies in many sub-Saharan African countries. The region also has some of the highest levels of other reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in the world. Some of these RTIs increase the risk of sexual transmission of HIV infection. Thus, the control of RTIs is seen not only as an important reproductive health care strategy to alleviate symptoms of infection and long-term gynecological, obstetric, and neonatal complications, but also as a key strategy in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS. As a result, all national health care programs in the region are actively seeking cost-effective ways of implementing an RTI management program that would reduce the spread of RTIs and ultimately HIV. Although there are many reasons to support an integrated approach to service delivery, many unanswered questions remain concerning its implementation, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. In 1998, the Africa OR/TA II Project and the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) undertook a study to assist the ZNFPC in developing the most appropriate and cost-effective approach to managing RTIs in its clinics. Findings from the study are presented in this report