HIV Prevalence Among Pregnant Women Decreases in Gauteng
in
16 Sep 2008
16 Sep 2008
Johannesburg - The prevalence rate of the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) among pregnant women in Gauteng is declining, says the provincial government, due to it stepping up its anti-retroviral treatment programme.
Releasing the Health in Gauteng Status Report for 2006/2007 on Thursday, provincial MEC for Health Brian Hlongwa said the HIV prevalence rate in pregnant women dropped from 33.1 percent in 2004 to 30.8 percent in 2006.
He said this was due to the increased rolling out of the anti-retroviral treatment programme.
"One of our provincial government successes was the expansion of HIV services to 59 000 people on anti-retroviral treatment," he said, adding that this target was almost doubled to 110 000 in 2007.
The report, which the provincial government hopes to release annually, is a comprehensive overview of the current status of health in the province and it is the first of its kind to be compiled by the department.
Mr Hlongwa said the report would help them to focus on the challenges of disease by setting strategic priorities to improve the health of citizens in the province.
"By analysing information on patterns of health and illness the department can identify areas where programmes are meeting targets and where there is need for improvement," he explained.
The report also noted that more pregnant woman were accessing free antenatal services and that two out of three women attending antenatal clinics underwent voluntary counseling. This is turn led to most of them proceeding to HIV testing.
While the majority of deliveries take place at health facilities, the rate of deliveries at public sector health facilities has dropped the report found.
All districts in the province had reached or exceeded the national target of 80 percent antenatal coverage in 2006/7, with the delivery rate in facilities at 92 percent.
The MEC said even though the report found mortality rates to be on the increase in the province, the provincial government was making efforts to increase access to anti-retroviral treatment and making other interventions which would lead to a decline in mortality rates.
In addition, more people in the province are making use of primary health care. The utilisation rate of the health facilities in the province increased from 1.3 visits per person per year in 2004/5 to 2.3 visits in 2006/7.
According to the report, one of the main factors hindering service delivery in the province was the shortage of qualified nurses.
However, the department is looking into various interventions including an increase in the number of student nurses and nursing colleges.
"Retention strategies for nurses already working in health services are also being investigated," Mr Hlongwa said.
Head of Department, Sybil Ngcobo said it is through the analysis of data on patterns of health and illness, that they can be able to identify areas where programmes are achieving the desired outcomes as well as areas that need corrective intervention.
"This is the greatest value of this Health Status Report, she said, adding that key priorities for action have been identified as a result of the analysis of the data on the District of Health Information System and other sources.
Releasing the Health in Gauteng Status Report for 2006/2007 on Thursday, provincial MEC for Health Brian Hlongwa said the HIV prevalence rate in pregnant women dropped from 33.1 percent in 2004 to 30.8 percent in 2006.
He said this was due to the increased rolling out of the anti-retroviral treatment programme.
"One of our provincial government successes was the expansion of HIV services to 59 000 people on anti-retroviral treatment," he said, adding that this target was almost doubled to 110 000 in 2007.
The report, which the provincial government hopes to release annually, is a comprehensive overview of the current status of health in the province and it is the first of its kind to be compiled by the department.
Mr Hlongwa said the report would help them to focus on the challenges of disease by setting strategic priorities to improve the health of citizens in the province.
"By analysing information on patterns of health and illness the department can identify areas where programmes are meeting targets and where there is need for improvement," he explained.
The report also noted that more pregnant woman were accessing free antenatal services and that two out of three women attending antenatal clinics underwent voluntary counseling. This is turn led to most of them proceeding to HIV testing.
While the majority of deliveries take place at health facilities, the rate of deliveries at public sector health facilities has dropped the report found.
All districts in the province had reached or exceeded the national target of 80 percent antenatal coverage in 2006/7, with the delivery rate in facilities at 92 percent.
The MEC said even though the report found mortality rates to be on the increase in the province, the provincial government was making efforts to increase access to anti-retroviral treatment and making other interventions which would lead to a decline in mortality rates.
In addition, more people in the province are making use of primary health care. The utilisation rate of the health facilities in the province increased from 1.3 visits per person per year in 2004/5 to 2.3 visits in 2006/7.
According to the report, one of the main factors hindering service delivery in the province was the shortage of qualified nurses.
However, the department is looking into various interventions including an increase in the number of student nurses and nursing colleges.
"Retention strategies for nurses already working in health services are also being investigated," Mr Hlongwa said.
Head of Department, Sybil Ngcobo said it is through the analysis of data on patterns of health and illness, that they can be able to identify areas where programmes are achieving the desired outcomes as well as areas that need corrective intervention.
"This is the greatest value of this Health Status Report, she said, adding that key priorities for action have been identified as a result of the analysis of the data on the District of Health Information System and other sources.
Source: http://www.buanews.gov.za
