Increasing access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services through the private sector in Uganda

Objectives:To explore whether private midwives can perform HIV counselling and testing, provide antiretroviral treatment and contraceptives, and how this affects access to services especially among young and HIV-positive women.Methods:A formative study was conducted between January and April 2009 to assess care-seeking practices and perceptions on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and family planning services in Wakiso district, central Uganda. A household survey supplemented by 12 focus group discussions and 66 key informant interviews was carried out between January and April 2009.Results:10 706 women, mean age 25.8 years (14–49 years) were interviewed. The majority of women, 4786 (57%) were in the lowest wealth quintile; 62.0% were not using family planning (p