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Larmarange J, Bachanas P, Skalland T, Balzer LB, Iwuji C, Floyd S, Mills LA, Pillay D, Havlir D, Kamya MR, Ayles H, Wirth K, Dabis F, Hayes R, Petersen M. Population-level viremia predicts HIV incidence at the community level across the Universal Testing and Treatment Trials in eastern and southern Africa. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0002157. [PMID: 37450436 PMCID: PMC10348573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Universal HIV testing and treatment (UTT) strategies aim to optimize population-level benefits of antiretroviral treatment. Between 2012 and 2018, four large community randomized trials were conducted in eastern and southern Africa. While their results were broadly consistent showing decreased population-level viremia reduces HIV incidence, it remains unclear how much HIV incidence can be reduced by increasing suppression among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We conducted a pooled analysis across the four UTT trials. Leveraging data from 105 communities in five countries, we evaluated the linear relationship between i) population-level viremia (prevalence of non-suppression-defined as plasma HIV RNA >500 or >400 copies/mL-among all adults, irrespective of HIV status) and HIV incidence; and ii) prevalence of non-suppression among PLHIV and HIV incidence, using parametric g-computation. HIV prevalence, measured in 257 929 persons, varied from 2 to 41% across the communities; prevalence of non-suppression among PLHIV, measured in 31 377 persons, from 3 to 70%; population-level viremia, derived from HIV prevalence and non-suppression, from < 1% to 25%; and HIV incidence, measured over 345 844 person-years (PY), from 0.03/100PY to 3.46/100PY. Decreases in population-level viremia were strongly associated with decreased HIV incidence in all trials (between 0.45/100PY and 1.88/100PY decline in HIV incidence per 10 percentage points decline in viremia). Decreases in non-suppression among PLHIV were also associated with decreased HIV incidence in all trials (between 0.06/100PY and 0.17/100PY decline in HIV incidence per 10 percentage points decline in non-suppression). Our results support both the utility of population-level viremia as a predictor of incidence, and thus a tool for targeting prevention interventions, and the ability of UTT approaches to reduce HIV incidence by increasing viral suppression. Implementation of universal HIV testing approaches, coupled with interventions to leverage linkage to treatment, adapted to local contexts, can reduce HIV acquisition at population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Larmarange
- Centre Population et Développement, Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Pamela Bachanas
- Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Timothy Skalland
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Laura B. Balzer
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Collins Iwuji
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Sian Floyd
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa A. Mills
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Deenan Pillay
- Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Diane Havlir
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Moses R. Kamya
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University Kampala, Uganda and the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Helen Ayles
- Clinical Research Department London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Zambart, University of Zambia School of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Kathleen Wirth
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - François Dabis
- Université Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219-Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
| | - Richard Hayes
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maya Petersen
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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Mugenyi L, Hansen CH, Mayaud P, Seeley J, Newton R, Nanfuka M, Abaasa A, Mugisha K, Etukoit M, Kaleebu P, Ruzagira E. Effect of the "universal test and treat" policy on the characteristics of persons registering for HIV care and initiating antiretroviral therapy in Uganda. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1187274. [PMID: 37361157 PMCID: PMC10289544 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1187274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined the effect of the Universal Test and Treat (UTT) policy on the characteristics of people living with HIV (PLHIV) at enrolment in HIV care and initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda using data from 11 nationally representative clinics of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO). We created two retrospective PLHIV cohorts: pre-UTT (2004-2016), where ART initiation was conditional on CD4 cell count and UTT (2017-2022), where ART was initiated regardless of World Health Organisation (WHO) clinical stage or CD4 cell count. We used a two-sample test of proportions and Wilcoxon rank-sum test to compare proportions and medians, respectively, between the cohorts. A total of 244,693 PLHIV were enrolled at the clinics [pre-UTT, 210,251 (85.9%); UTT, 34,442 (14.1%)]. Compared to the pre-UTT cohort, the UTT cohort had higher proportions of PLHIV that were male (p < 0.001), aged 18-29 years (p < 0.001), aged >69 years, never married (p < 0.001), and educated to primary (p < 0.001) and post-primary (p < 0.001) school level at enrolment in HIV care and ART initiation. Overall, 97.9% of UTT PLHIV initiated ART compared to 45.2% under pre-UTT. The median time from enrolment in HIV care to ART initiation decreased from 301 [interquartile range (IQR): 58-878] pre-UTT to 0 (IQR: 0-0) under UTT. The median CD4 count at ART initiation increased from 254 cells/μL pre-UTT to 482 cells/μL under UTT (p < 0.001). Compared to the pre-UTT cohort, the UTT cohort had higher proportions of PLHIV with a CD4 count >500 cells/μL (47.3% vs. 13.2%, p < 0.001) and WHO stage 1 (31.7% vs. 4.5%, p < 0.001) at ART initiation. Adoption of the UTT policy in Uganda was successful in enrolling previously unreached individuals, such as men and younger and older adults, as well as those with less advanced HIV disease. Future research will investigate the effect of UTT on long-term outcomes such as retention in care, HIV viral suppression, morbidity, and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian H. Hansen
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philippe Mayaud
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janet Seeley
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Newton
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Andrew Abaasa
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | | | - Pontiano Kaleebu
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugene Ruzagira
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets: a comparative analysis of four large community randomised trials delivering universal testing and treatment to reduce HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2333. [PMID: 36514036 PMCID: PMC9746009 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14713-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Four large community-randomized trials examining universal testing and treatment (UTT) to reduce HIV transmission were conducted between 2012-2018 in Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa. In 2014, the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets were adopted as a useful metric to monitor coverage. We systematically review the approaches used by the trials to measure intervention delivery, and estimate coverage against the 90-90-90 targets. We aim to provide in-depth understanding of the background contexts and complexities that affect estimation of population-level coverage related to the 90-90-90 targets. METHODS Estimates were based predominantly on "process" data obtained during delivery of the interventions which included a combination of home-based and community-based services. Cascade coverage data included routine electronic health records, self-reported data, survey data, and active ascertainment of HIV viral load measurements in the field. RESULTS The estimated total adult populations of trial intervention communities included in this study ranged from 4,290 (TasP) to 142,250 (Zambian PopART Arm-B). The estimated total numbers of PLHIV ranged from 1,283 (TasP) to 20,541 (Zambian PopART Arm-B). By the end of intervention delivery, the first-90 target (knowledge of HIV status among all PLHIV) was met by all the trials (89.2%-94.0%). Three of the four trials also achieved the second- and third-90 targets, and viral suppression in BCPP and SEARCH exceeded the UNAIDS target of 73%, while viral suppression in the Zambian PopART Arm-A and B communities was within a small margin (~ 3%) of the target. CONCLUSIONS All four UTT trials aimed to implement wide-scale testing and treatment for HIV prevention at population level and showed substantial increases in testing and treatment for HIV in the intervention communities. This study has not uncovered any one estimation approach which is superior, rather that several approaches are available and researchers or policy makers seeking to measure coverage should reflect on background contexts and complexities that affect estimation of population-level coverage in their specific settings. All four trials surpassed UNAIDS targets for universal testing in their intervention communities ahead of the 2020 milestone. All but one of the trials also achieved the 90-90 targets for treatment and viral suppression. UTT is a realistic option to achieve 95-95-95 by 2030 and fast-track the end of the HIV epidemic.
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Bousmah MAQ, Iwuji C, Okesola N, Orne-Gliemann J, Pillay D, Dabis F, Larmarange J, Boyer S. Costs and economies of scale in repeated home-based HIV counselling and testing: Evidence from the ANRS 12249 treatment as prevention trial in South Africa. Soc Sci Med 2022; 305:115068. [PMID: 35665689 PMCID: PMC9214548 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Universal HIV testing is now recommended in generalised HIV epidemic settings. Although home-based HIV counselling and testing (HB-HCT) has been shown to be effective in achieving high levels of HIV status awareness, little is still known about the cost implications of universal and repeated HB-HCT. We estimated the costs of repeated HB-HCT and the scale economies that can be obtained when increasing the population coverage of the intervention. We used primary data from the ANRS 12249 Treatment as Prevention (TasP) trial in rural South Africa (2012–2016), whose testing component included six-monthly repeated HB-HCT. We relied on the dynamic system generalised method of moments (GMM) approach to produce unbiased short- and long-run estimates of economies of scale, using the number of contacts made by HIV counsellors for HB-HCT as the scale variable. We also estimated the mediating effect of the contact quality – measured as the proportion of HIV tests performed among all contacts eligible for an HIV test – on scale economies. The mean cost (standard deviation) of universal and repeated HB-HCT was $24.2 (13.7) per contact, $1694.3 (1527.8) per new HIV diagnosis, and $269.2 (279.0) per appropriate referral to HIV care. The GMM estimations revealed the presence of economies of scale, with a 1% increase in the number of contacts for HB-HCT leading to a 0.27% decrease in the mean cost. Our results also suggested a significant long-run relationship between mean cost and scale, with a 1% increase in the scale leading to a 0.36% decrease in mean cost in the long run. Overall, we showed that significant cost savings can be made from increasing population coverage. Nevertheless, there is a risk that this gain is made at the expense of quality: the higher the quality of HB-HCT activities, the lower the economies of scale. We estimated the costs of repeated home-based HIV counselling and testing (HB-HCT). The mean cost per new HIV diagnosis, which increased over HB-HCT rounds, was $1694. However, the mean cost per appropriate referral to HIV care was $269. A 1% increase in the scale of HB-HCT reduced the average cost per contact by 0.27%. Expanding the population coverage of HB-HCT offers opportunities for cost savings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwân-Al-Qays Bousmah
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France; Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, F-75006, Paris, France.
| | - Collins Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | | | - Joanna Orne-Gliemann
- University of Bordeaux, National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) UMR 1219, Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) EMR 271, Bordeaux Population Health Centre, Bordeaux, France
| | - Deenan Pillay
- Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK; Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - François Dabis
- University of Bordeaux, National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) UMR 1219, Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) EMR 271, Bordeaux Population Health Centre, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Sylvie Boyer
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
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Khan S, Spiegelman D, Walsh F, Mazibuko S, Pasipamire M, Chai B, Reis R, Mlambo K, Delva W, Khumalo G, Zwane M, Fleming Y, Mafara E, Hettema A, Lejeune C, Chao A, Bärnighausen T, Okello V. Early access to antiretroviral therapy versus standard of care among HIV-positive participants in Eswatini in the public health sector: the MaxART stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 23:e25610. [PMID: 32949103 PMCID: PMC7507004 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The WHO recommends antiretroviral treatment (ART) for all HIV‐positive patients regardless of CD4 count or disease stage, referred to as “Early Access to ART for All” (EAAA). The health systems effects of EAAA implementation are unknown. This trial was implemented in a government‐managed public health system with the aim to examine the “real world” impact of EAAA on care retention and viral suppression. Methods In this stepped‐wedge randomized controlled trial, 14 public sector health facilities in Eswatini were paired and randomly assigned to stepwise transition from standard of care (SoC) to EAAA. ART‐naïve participants ≥18 years who were not pregnant or breastfeeding were eligible for enrolment. We used Cox proportional hazard models with censoring at clinic transition to estimate the effects of EAAA on retention in care and retention and viral suppression combined. Results Between September 2014 and August 2017, 3405 participants were enrolled. In SoC and EAAA respectively, 12‐month HIV care retention rates were 80% (95% CI: 77 to 83) and 86% (95% CI: 83 to 88). The 12‐month combined retention and viral suppression endpoint rates were 44% (95% CI: 40 to 48) under SoC compared to 80% (95% CI: 77 to 83) under EAAA. EAAA increased both retention (HR: 1·60, 95% CI: 1·15 to 2·21, p = 0.005) and retention and viral suppression combined (HR: 4.88, 95% CI: 2.96 to 8.05, p < 0.001). We also identified significant gaps in current health systems ability to provide viral load (VL) monitoring with 80% participants in SoC and 66% in EAAA having a missing VL at last contact. Conclusions The observed improvement in retention in care and on the combined retention and viral suppression provides an important co‐benefit of EAAA to HIV‐positive adults themselves, at least in the short term. Our results from this “real world” health systems trial strongly support EAAA for Eswatini and countries with similar HIV epidemics and health systems. VL monitoring needs to be scaled up for appropriate care management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaukat Khan
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Mbabane, Swaziland
| | - Donna Spiegelman
- Center on Methods for Implementation and Prevention Science and Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.,Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Nutrition and Global Health, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fiona Walsh
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sikhatele Mazibuko
- Eswatini National ART program (SNAP), Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Swaziland
| | | | - Boyang Chai
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ria Reis
- Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Amsterdam Institute for Social Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Children's Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Khudzie Mlambo
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Mbabane, Swaziland
| | - Wim Delva
- The South African Department of Science and Technology - National Research Foundation (DST-NRF) Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.,Center for Statistics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.,KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Gavin Khumalo
- Eswatini National Network of People Living with HIV (SWANNEPHA), Mbabane, Swaziland
| | | | | | - Emma Mafara
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Mbabane, Swaziland
| | - Anita Hettema
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Mbabane, Swaziland
| | | | - Ariel Chao
- Center on Methods for Implementation and Prevention Science and Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Heidelberg Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Velephi Okello
- Directorate Office, Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Swaziland
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Tanser F, Kim HY, Vandormael A, Iwuji C, Bärnighausen T. Opportunities and Challenges in HIV Treatment as Prevention Research: Results from the ANRS 12249 Cluster-Randomized Trial and Associated Population Cohort. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2020; 17:97-108. [PMID: 32072468 PMCID: PMC7072051 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-020-00487-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The ANRS 12249 treatment as prevention (TasP) trial investigated the impact of a universal test and treat (UTT) approach on reducing HIV incidence in one of the regions of the world most severely affected by the HIV epidemic-KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We summarize key findings from this trial as well as recent findings from controlled studies conducted in the linked population cohort quantifying the long-term effects of expanding ART on directly measured HIV incidence (2004-2017). RECENT FINDINGS The ANRS TasP trial did not-and could not-demonstrate a reduction in HIV incidence, because the offer of UTT in the intervention communities did not increase ART coverage and population viral suppression compared to the standard of care in the control communities. Ten controlled studies from the linked population cohort-including several quasi-experimental study designs-exploit heterogeneity in ART exposure to show a consistent and substantial impact of expanding provision of ART and population viral suppression on reduction in HIV incidence at the couple, household, community, and population levels. In this setting, all of the evidence from large, population-based studies (inclusive of the ANRS TasP trial) is remarkably coherent and consistent-i.e., higher ART coverage and population viral suppression were repeatedly associated with clear, measurable decreases in HIV incidence. Thus, the expanded provision of ART has plausibly contributed in a major way toward the dramatic 43% decline in population-level HIV incidence in this typical rural African population. The outcome of the ANRS TasP trial constitutes a powerful null finding with important insights for overcoming implementation challenges in the population delivery of ART. This finding does not imply lack of ART effectiveness in blocking onward transmission of HIV nor its inability to reduce HIV incidence. Rather, it demonstrates that large increases in ART coverage over current levels will require health systems innovations to attract people living with HIV in early stages of the disease to participate in HIV treatment. Such innovations and new approaches are required for the true potential of UTT to be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Tanser
- Lincoln Institute for Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Hae-Young Kim
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
- KwaZulu-Natal Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Alain Vandormael
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Collins Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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