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Providing HIV health care to all in need: Are ART services equitable in urban South Africa?

Meeting the policy goal of providing health care services to 80% of HIV-infected people in South Africa requires a huge investment in resources. It is also important that these resources are allocated equitably. It can be difficult to ensure equity when a health service programme is scaled up. This is because the service could initially be used by richer groups as they are better able to overcome any access barriers (including the costs of accessing care and community stigma). This brief looks at whether this is the case in South Africa with regard to the scaling up of ART services in the public health system.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services What are the barriers to accessing these services in Zimbabwe?

This policy brief draws on research conducted in Zimbabwe to assess the barriers that women face in accessing PMTCT services. The findings from the study will be useful in informing policy that seeks to improve access to PMTCT services. By addressing the barriers that women face, the uptake of services could increase and hence contribute to the reduction in vertical transmission of HIV and subsequently child mortality.