[Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: reviewing a programme in Benin]

Abstract

This article reviews the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme (PMTCT) in Benin. A survey was conducted in the 56 PMTCT sites of the country among health providers and beneficiaries. 39,000 pregnant women were tested per year in these sites (3.9% were HIV-positive) and 1,120 infected women have received the protocol (single-dose nevirapine), which corresponds to a national coverage rate of 16%. The investigation revealed shortcomings of the programme, notably the variation in the cost of prenatal consultations, HIV tests were frequently out of stock, lack of adherence to PMTCT recommendations and neglect of concern for the future of mothers and their children, supervision was not sufficiently pragmatic and PMTCT lacked linkages with the maternal and child health programme. This context should be taken into consideration when discussing the extension of PMTCT to new sites and the introduction of more active antiretroviral regimen.