Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains an unbeaten challenge that affects all parts of the global population. Since the identification of the epidemic in the early 1980s, nearly 58 million people have become infected with the virus and 25 million people have died of HIV-related complications. This study aimed to elucidate individual and community level factors associated with the uptake of antenatal care (ANC), health facility delivery, HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT), and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services by implementing a hierarchical (multilevel) methodological approach. This study used a cross-sectional, multistage sampling design in which health facilities were first selected (stage 1), followed by recruitment of post-partum women who came for child immunization from each health facility (stage 2), in Tigray region. Structured interview guides were developed for interviews. Four-fifths (80.0%) of mothers used antenatal services at least once during their most recent pregnancy and of these 74.6% of women accessed HCT. Sixty nine percent of women had delivered at a health facility, 79% of mothers and 55.7% of their children had received PMTCT services. Place of residence was significantly associated with ANC attendance and place of delivery, with women living in urban areas almost 2 times (OR=1.75, 95% CI 1.06, 2.92) more likely to deliver at a health facility. With the addition of one health facility per 25000 people, the likelihood of delivering at a health facility increased by 2.45 fold (OR=2.45, 95% CI 1.04, 5.78). Attending ANC (OR=4.54; 95%CI 2.82,7.33) and getting support from husband (OR=1.97; 95%CI 1.25,3.10) were significantly associated with HCT, at the individual level. At the community-level, for the addition iii of one health facility and HCT site for every 25000 people increase the likelihood of HCT utilization by 2.1 and 2.4 fold respectively. Mothers who delivered at a health facility were 18 times (OR=18.21; 95%CI 4.37,75.91) and children born at a health facility were 5 times (OR=4.77; 95%CI 1.21,18.83) more likely to receive PMTCT services, compared to mothers delivering at home. With the addition of one nurse per 1500 people, the likelihood of getting PMTCT services for a mother increases by 7.22 fold (OR=7.22; 95% CI 1.02,51.26). Community-level random-effects were also significant and there was confirmation of nesting at the community-level even after controlling for individual and communitylevel variables. Findings also showed that HCT utilization was nested according to district of residence, contributing 11.3% of the variance. In addition, the variation of mothers getting PMTCT services between districts was only 0.6%, but was 27.2% for children. Conclusion: Factors influencing utilization of maternal health services work at different levels, individual and community. Hierarchical models reveal these differences in ways that single-level (individual or community) models do not. Interventions are needed to increase spouse involvement in ANC utilization, and explore effective ways of increasing health facility delivery among poor women with little formal education in rural areas and increasing the number of health facility per people are important. The government should focus on increasing ANC access, educating couples on the importance of health services utilization, increasing the number of health facilities and HCT sites per population to improve HCT utilization. In addition to these, programmes should focus on increasing health facility delivery, training traditional birth attendants to understand the need for PMTCT and increasing iv HCT coverage to advance getting PMTCT services for mothers at the individual level and for children at both individual and community level. Permission to conduct the study was granted from the Ethics Committee of the University of the Western Cape and from Tigray Region Health Bureau. Verbal informed consent was obtained from each participant in the health facility based interview.

Introdução: O cenário da epidemia da AIDS vem se modificando no Brasil e no mundo e o perfil epidemiológico das pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS vem sofrendo sucessivas alterações desde a década de 80. Embora os homens representem em números absolutos, o maior número de notificações do total de casos de AIDS, a velocidade de crescimento da epidemia é maior entre as mulheres. O Brasil tem uma resposta à epidemia de DST/AIDS reconhecida internacionalmente, baseada nos princípios do SUS à universalidade, à equidade e à integralidade na assistência. Um dos capítulos desta resposta é a prevenção da transmissão vertical do HIV. O tema que vem ganhando importância na medida em que a AIDS recebe status de doença crônica e as mulheres soropositivas podem fazer as suas escolhas reprodutivas. A prevenção da transmissão vertical do HIV contempla testagem para diagnóstico precoce, terapia antirretroviral durante a gravidez e o parto, terapia antirretroviral para o recém-nascido e a não amamentação. Objetivo- Conhecer como as ações de prevenção e controle da transmissão vertical do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana são percebidas pelas gestantes e puérperas atendidas pelo Programa Estadual de DST/AIDS, e sua satisfação, ou insatisfação, em relação à assistência recebida. Método- Nossa amostra foi composta por 14 mulheres, sendo 13 soropositivas para o HIV que engravidaram e tiveram pelo menos um filho no contexto da soropositividade e uma, soronegativa para o HIV e mãe adotiva de uma criança soropositiva. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizada a metodologia qualitativa, com base em entrevistas individuais, semiestruturadas, realizadas em 2010. Resultados - Não houve aconselhamento para a testagem de nenhuma mulher da amostra. As mulheres apresentaram, no geral, uma falta de identificação com o perfil de pessoas que podem se infectar com o HIV, sendo surpreendidas com o diagnóstico. Oito pais apresentaram status sorológico desconhecido, sendo que três negaram-se à testagem. Há dificuldades por parte das mulheres, para promoverem relações sexuais protegidas com o uso do preservativo masculino. Os efeitos adversos dos antirretrovirais são descritos como obstáculo importante à adesão ao tratamento. O alojamento conjunto foi o cenário das piores vivências dentre toda a assistência recebida, destaque dado ao tema aleitamento materno. Há uma lacuna entre as demandas das mulheres em produzir e relatar as suas narrativas e a inexistência de espaços de escuta, seja individualmente na relação com o profissional médico, seja em grupos. Conclusões - A ausência do aconselhamento como espaço de abordagem e esclarecimentos, informações e escolhas, dificulta uma ação mais oportuna para a redução da transmissão vertical do HIV. As mulheres comuns não são atingidas pelas informações sobre HIV/AIDS oferecidas pelas campanhas para prevenção da infecção. O uso do preservativo para evitar a infecção ainda é uma decisão masculina. As mulheres raramente encontram interlocução entre os profissionais, para tirarem suas dúvidas e planejarem sua vida reprodutiva de forma mais segura. Apesar da falta de discussão sobre o planejamento terapêutico, a via de parto e os cuidados com o bebê, as mulheres seguem a prescrição e seguem com seus medos e suas dúvidas / Introduction: The scenario of the AIDS epidemic has been changing in Brazil and worldwide, and epidemiological profile of people living with HIV / AIDS has undergone successive changes since the 80\'s. Although men represent in absolute numbers, the highest number of notifications of all cases of AIDS, the epidemic growth rate is higher among women. Brazil has a response to the epidemic of STD / AIDS internationally recognized principles of the SUS: universality, equity and integrity in service. One of the elements of this response is the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV. The theme that is gaining importance, as AIDS gets the status of chronic disease and HIV positive women can make their own reproductive choices. The prevention of vertical transmission of HIV includes testing for early diagnosis, antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and delivery, antiretroviral therapy for the newborn and not breastfeeding. Objective -To study how the prevention and control of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus are perceived by pregnant women and new mothers assisted by the State Program of STD / AIDS, and their satisfaction or dissatisfaction in relation to care received. Methods -Our sample consisted of 14 women, 13 HIV-positive pregnant and who had at least one child in the context of being HIV positive and one was seronegative for HIV and an adoptive mother of an HIV positive child. To collect data we used the qualitative methodology, based on individual interviews, semi-structured, conducted in 2010. Results - There was no counseling for the testing of any women in the sample. Women had, overall, a lack of identification with the profile of people who can become infected with HIV, being surprised by the diagnosis. Eight male partners had unknown HIV status, and three refused to be tested. There are difficulties, for women, to promote safe sex with condom use. Adverse effects of antiretroviral drugs are described as barrier to treatment adherence. Rooming-in was the scene of the worst experiences among all the care received, highlighting the theme of breastfeeding. There is a gap between women\'s demands to produce and report their stories and the lack of opportunities to listen, either individually in relation to the medical professional, either in groups. Conclusions - The lack of counseling as a space for dialogue and explanations, information and choices, hampers a more timely action to reduce vertical transmission of HIV. The \"ordinary\" women are not affected by information about HIV / AIDS provided by the campaigns to prevent infection. The use of condoms to prevent infection is still a male decision. Women are rarely have the opportunity to with professionals, to expose their questions and plan their reproductive lives more safely. In this setting of lack ofparticipation on treatment planning, delivery or baby care, women follow the \"prescription\" and move on with their fears and doubts

Introdução: O cenário da epidemia da AIDS vem se modificando no Brasil e no mundo e o perfil epidemiológico das pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS vem sofrendo sucessivas alterações desde a década de 80. Embora os homens representem em números absolutos, o maior número de notificações do total de casos de AIDS, a velocidade de crescimento da epidemia é maior entre as mulheres. O Brasil tem uma resposta à epidemia de DST/AIDS reconhecida internacionalmente, baseada nos princípios do SUS à universalidade, à equidade e à integralidade na assistência. Um dos capítulos desta resposta é a prevenção da transmissão vertical do HIV. O tema que vem ganhando importância na medida em que a AIDS recebe status de doença crônica e as mulheres soropositivas podem fazer as suas escolhas reprodutivas. A prevenção da transmissão vertical do HIV contempla testagem para diagnóstico precoce, terapia antirretroviral durante a gravidez e o parto, terapia antirretroviral para o recém-nascido e a não amamentação. Objetivo- Conhecer como as ações de prevenção e controle da transmissão vertical do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana são percebidas pelas gestantes e puérperas atendidas pelo Programa Estadual de DST/AIDS, e sua satisfação, ou insatisfação, em relação à assistência recebida. Método- Nossa amostra foi composta por 14 mulheres, sendo 13 soropositivas para o HIV que engravidaram e tiveram pelo menos um filho no contexto da soropositividade e uma, soronegativa para o HIV e mãe adotiva de uma criança soropositiva. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizada a metodologia qualitativa, com base em entrevistas individuais, semiestruturadas, realizadas em 2010. Resultados - Não houve aconselhamento para a testagem de nenhuma mulher da amostra. As mulheres apresentaram, no geral, uma falta de identificação com o perfil de pessoas que podem se infectar com o HIV, sendo surpreendidas com o diagnóstico. Oito pais apresentaram status sorológico desconhecido, sendo que três negaram-se à testagem. Há dificuldades por parte das mulheres, para promoverem relações sexuais protegidas com o uso do preservativo masculino. Os efeitos adversos dos antirretrovirais são descritos como obstáculo importante à adesão ao tratamento. O alojamento conjunto foi o cenário das piores vivências dentre toda a assistência recebida, destaque dado ao tema aleitamento materno. Há uma lacuna entre as demandas das mulheres em produzir e relatar as suas narrativas e a inexistência de espaços de escuta, seja individualmente na relação com o profissional médico, seja em grupos. Conclusões - A ausência do aconselhamento como espaço de abordagem e esclarecimentos, informações e escolhas, dificulta uma ação mais oportuna para a redução da transmissão vertical do HIV. As mulheres comuns não são atingidas pelas informações sobre HIV/AIDS oferecidas pelas campanhas para prevenção da infecção. O uso do preservativo para evitar a infecção ainda é uma decisão masculina. As mulheres raramente encontram interlocução entre os profissionais, para tirarem suas dúvidas e planejarem sua vida reprodutiva de forma mais segura. Apesar da falta de discussão sobre o planejamento terapêutico, a via de parto e os cuidados com o bebê, as mulheres seguem a prescrição e seguem com seus medos e suas dúvidas / Introduction: The scenario of the AIDS epidemic has been changing in Brazil and worldwide, and epidemiological profile of people living with HIV / AIDS has undergone successive changes since the 80\'s. Although men represent in absolute numbers, the highest number of notifications of all cases of AIDS, the epidemic growth rate is higher among women. Brazil has a response to the epidemic of STD / AIDS internationally recognized principles of the SUS: universality, equity and integrity in service. One of the elements of this response is the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV. The theme that is gaining importance, as AIDS gets the status of chronic disease and HIV positive women can make their own reproductive choices. The prevention of vertical transmission of HIV includes testing for early diagnosis, antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and delivery, antiretroviral therapy for the newborn and not breastfeeding. Objective -To study how the prevention and control of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus are perceived by pregnant women and new mothers assisted by the State Program of STD / AIDS, and their satisfaction or dissatisfaction in relation to care received. Methods -Our sample consisted of 14 women, 13 HIV-positive pregnant and who had at least one child in the context of being HIV positive and one was seronegative for HIV and an adoptive mother of an HIV positive child. To collect data we used the qualitative methodology, based on individual interviews, semi-structured, conducted in 2010. Results - There was no counseling for the testing of any women in the sample. Women had, overall, a lack of identification with the profile of people who can become infected with HIV, being surprised by the diagnosis. Eight male partners had unknown HIV status, and three refused to be tested. There are difficulties, for women, to promote safe sex with condom use. Adverse effects of antiretroviral drugs are described as barrier to treatment adherence. Rooming-in was the scene of the worst experiences among all the care received, highlighting the theme of breastfeeding. There is a gap between women\'s demands to produce and report their stories and the lack of opportunities to listen, either individually in relation to the medical professional, either in groups. Conclusions - The lack of counseling as a space for dialogue and explanations, information and choices, hampers a more timely action to reduce vertical transmission of HIV. The \"ordinary\" women are not affected by information about HIV / AIDS provided by the campaigns to prevent infection. The use of condoms to prevent infection is still a male decision. Women are rarely have the opportunity to with professionals, to expose their questions and plan their reproductive lives more safely. In this setting of lack ofparticipation on treatment planning, delivery or baby care, women follow the \"prescription\" and move on with their fears and doubts