Implementing family-focused HIV care and treatment: the first 2 years' experience of the mother-to-child transmission -plus program in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

To describe a family-focused approach to HIV care and treatment and report on the first 2 years experience of implementing the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT)-plus program in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The MTCT-plus initiative aims to enrol HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women in comprehensive HIV care and treatment for themselves and their families. Between August 2003 and August 2005, 605 HIV-infected pregnant or postpartum women and 582 HIV-exposed infants enrolled. Of their 568 male partners reported alive, 52% were aware of their wife's HIV status and 30% were tested for HIV; 53% of these tested partners were found to be HIV-infected and 78% enrolled into the program. Overall only 10% of the women enrolled together with their infected partner. On the other hand, the program involved half of the seronegative men who came for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in the care of their families. Of 1624 children