1. Turning The Tide In The Care of Women Living with HIV Women’s Networking Zone 2012 Women for Positive Action is supported by a grant from Abbott Women for Positive Action is an educational program funded and initiated by Abbott Laboratories Angelina Namiba & Ophelia Haanyama Ørum

2. Women for Positive Action Empowering, educating and supporting women living with HIV Women for Positive Action is an educational program funded and initiated by Abbott Laboratories

3. Women for Positive Action Women for Positive Action is a unique global initiative established in response to the need to address the specific concerns of women living and working with HIV What? Women for Positive Action is led by a multidisciplinary international faculty of women including healthcare professionals, women living with HIV and community group representatives Who? Women for Positive Action has branches in Europe, Canada, Latin America and South Africa A total of 20 countries are directly represented Where?

4. Women for Positive Action mission To empower, educate and support women with HIV and the healthcare professionals and community advocates/leaders involved in their treatment To explore the issues facing women with HIV and provide meaningful educational-based support to respond to these needs To contribute towards an enhanced quality of life for women living with HIV

5. Women for Positive Action website www.womenforpositiveaction.org Currently available in: English, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Romanian, Spanish Educational toolkits currently available in: English, French, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese

6. Overview of Women for Positive Action activities Website Educational slide kits To create learning opportunities for clinicians and community leaders to support women International Women’s Day activities 2012 Country specific activities Local implementation

7. Objectives of this session Angelina Namiba & Ophelia Haanyama Ørum from the Women for Positive Action faculty will discuss a selection of challenges facing a younger woman living with HIV ~Giving insight into practical advice to help improve the lives of women living with HIV ~Highlighting what is known and not known about specific issues in HIV for women

8. Case Study Mary Anne, a younger woman living with HIV

9. Case notes: Mary Anne Profile 23 year old woman presents to the STD clinic for screening SEROLOGY HIV Pos CD4 380/mm 3 Viral load 68,000 copies/ml History Migrant from west Africa History of sexual assault (2 years ago) Diagnosed with syphilis New partner informed her he had recently tested HIV negative

10. Audience discussion What do you think Mary Anne’s initial reaction to her HIV diagnosis was?

11. Case notes: Mary Anne Other factors Reports poor sleeping, panic attacks and mood swings

12. Audience discussion What would you suggest next? 1.Talk through her diagnosis and provide suggestions for managing HIV 2.Assess symptoms further with a psychological screening tool and advise her to start pharmacotherapy for her mood symptoms 3.Refer her to a psychologist for further investigation 4.Provide peer support

13. Case notes: Mary Anne Other factors Reports poor sleeping, panic attacks and mood swings Uncertain about pregnancy at the moment Keen to start treatment

14. Case notes: Mary Anne Other factors Reports poor sleeping, panic attacks and mood swings Uncertain about pregnancy at the moment Keen to adapt to treatment She is reluctant to tell her new partner about her diagnosis as she feels he would leave her

15. Audience discussion How would you advise her? What support is available for women who want to disclose?

16. Case notes: Mary Anne 1 year later HIV viral load = undetectable Syphilis infection cleared She is adjusting to her diagnosis and treatment She has disclosed to her partner who is supportive She is now pregnant

17. Case notes: Mary Anne A baby boy is born Baby is HIV-negative Mary Anne wishes to breastfeed She is concerned her community will identify her as HIV positive if she does not breastfeed...... she insists

18. Audience discussion What would you suggest to Mary Anne regarding her desire to breastfeeding?

19. Case notes: Mary Anne Follow-up visit Mary Anne decided to formula feed her baby She is continuing ART and her psychological symptoms are monitored on an ongoing basis

20. www.womenforpositiveaction.org Women for Positive Action is supported by a grant from Abbott www.womenforpositiveaction.org @WFPA_HIV Women for Positive Action is an educational program funded and initiated by Abbott Laboratories