Law and Pediatric HIV Testing

• Published in: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 379 - 383
• Main Authors: Verani, Andre R, Orago Alloys S S, Kariuki, Charles N, Muraguri Nicholas, Koros, Dan, Marston, Barbara, De Cock Kevin M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC 01-07-2014
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Case studies; Children; Health services; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Infants; Law; Maternal and infant welfare; Medical tests; Mothers; Pediatrics; Policy implementation; Treaties; Kenya
• ISSN: 2325-9574; 2325-9582
• DOI: 10.1177/2325957412473779

Realization of the right to health occurs along a continuum including national ratification of international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, passage of domestic laws and policies that may specify modes of implementation and enforcement such as Kenya’s Constitution and HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, and actual implementation of domestic laws and policies such as through the regulation and delivery of health services. The stages heuristic theoretical framework describes the public policy continuum as consisting of marked stages: agenda setting, policy formulation, policy implementation, and evaluation. This case study illustrates the continuum in Kenya with regard to pediatric HIV testing. Kenya has made progress applying law, policy, and science to reduce vertical transmission of HIV and increase HIV testing of infants, although several challenges remain. Progress in policy implementation may reduce mother-to-child transmission and increase pediatric HIV testing.