Gender paradigm for hospital care & support for HIV cases in Bangladesh

2^nd International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs, & STIs

October 27-29, 2014 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Zubair Shams, Simon Rasin and Lima Rahman

Accepted Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

Bangladesh is one of the countries of Asian region where HIV incidence rate has increased by over 25% between 2001 and 2012. Bangladeshi population is highly vulnerable for high-risk behavior and unsafe practice. HIV prevalence has continued to rise in the general population. Out of total reported new HIV cases, female population had increased from 32% to 36% from 2007 to 2013 respectively. Among these groups, more than 60% are housewives. Under the national HIV response, Save the Children is providing care and support for people mostly affected by HIV/AIDS besides preventive measures. Having ARV provision with country wide coverage aim to provide prophylactic co-trimoxazole, laboratory assessment for ARV eligibility, viral load monitoring and hospital care services maintaining national guidelines. However, for care & support, PLHIV are referred to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), the only public hospital and icddrb, a non-government hospital for inpatient care that includes nutritional support, medicine, blood transfusion and lab investigations. Program data shows that 63% (34) out of total 54 PLHIV who were sent to the hospital care at the end of September, 2013, were female and this proportion is increasing compared to similar time in last year (40%). Male dominated social context, delayed diagnosis for being stigmatized, improper follow up might contribute here. Access to HIV testing with increasing vulnerabilities among female population is vital. By strengthening national health system, government with relevant stakeholders has to ensure universal access to clinical management irrespective of male/female HIV(+) for cessation and further prevention.

Biography :

Zubair Shams has completed his degree in dentistry at the age of 23 years from Dhaka Dental College Hospital and Masters in Public health (MPH) from James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University. Now, he is Deputy Manager- Monitoring & Evaluation in HIV/AIDS Program in Save the Children in Bangladesh, a reputed international organization. Till now, he has published 5 research articles in reputed journals, 2 reports on HIV/AIDS Baseline survey among all MARPs and 5 more abstracts on HIV/AIDS for ICAAP11, Thailand. He was actively involved in poverty impact assessment for PLHIV, national impact assessment on PWID intervention in Bangladesh.