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About the Authors:
Victor Akelo
Affiliations Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Sonali Girde
Affiliations Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, ICF International, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Craig B. Borkowf
Affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Frank Angira
Affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
Kevin Achola
Affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
Richard Lando
Affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
Lisa A. Mills
Affiliation: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Research Branch, Kisumu, Kenya
Timothy K. Thomas
Affiliation: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Research Branch, Kisumu, Kenya
Shirley Lee Lecher
* E-mail: [email protected]
Affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Introduction
Women remain disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where women comprise 58% of the adults living with HIV, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2012. In 2011, the incidence in children was also highest in sub-Saharan Africa, representing more than 90% of children worldwide who became newly infected with HIV [1]. Treatment and prevention of HIV infection in women is of course required to prevent new infections in infants. The number of HIV-infected children <15 years old in sub-Saharan Africa is 91% of the total 3.4 million HIV-infected children globally [1]. These unfavorable statistics, coupled with the high prevalence of HIV-infected pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, underscore the need for HIV interventions focused on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and family planning (FP) to avoid unintended pregnancies [1]. It is estimated from data collected from 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa that 14 million unintended pregnancies occur each year [2]. Among the 128 million women married or in a union who are 15 to 49 years old in sub-Saharan Africa, the unmet need for FP is estimated at 25% according to UNAIDS [3]. In resource-limited countries, too few women are receiving effective FP or HIV prevention and treatment services to protect themselves and their children [4].