In all ways young women are a priority
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Background
1.4 million people are currently living with HIV in Uganda. Of all new HIV infections, 29% were among adolescent girls and young women, despite this group only representing 10% of its population (Uganda AIDS Commission, 2021).
Young mothers living with HIV have multi-layered issues to manage, including pregnancy, childbirth and parenting, alongside lifelong antiretroviral therapy, preventing HIV transmission to their infant, potentially caring for a child with HIV, mental health challenges and often HIV associated stigma and discrimination. Young mothers and their children are at greater risk of HIV infection as well as poverty, violence, exclusion, poor education, and early childhood developmental delays. A high number of children and pregnant and lactating young women living with HIV are still unaware of their HIV status or are not able to start or continue their treatment. Various barriers are hindering them to access or to continue accessing the services they need to live healthy lives or to ensure children are born and remain HIV free (WHO/ UNICEF, 2021).
Objectives
The aim of the project is a healthy life for children and their mothers (10-24) living with HIV. Underlying objectives are:
- Reduction of vertical transmission for children born to young mothers during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding/lactation period;
- Improved treatment coverage, adherence and retention in care for young mothers living with HIV;
- Improved treatment coverage and outcomes for children living with HIV who have a young mother.
BLOOM Baseline evaluation
Access the results of the baseline evaluation of the Bloom project. The evaluation was carried out over a period of 4 months from September 2023 to December 2023. Primary data was collected from all the 5 districts in which the Bloom project is implemented (Mpigi, Mityana, Butambala, Mubende and Kyenjojo). While secondary data was collected from the District Health Information System (DHIS2)9 to showcase the status of HIV/AIDS indicators across the 5 districts at baseline.
